Tracking Public Policy
for Colorado's Renewable Energy Farmer's Network
From Colorado Working Landscapes, January 5, 2004,
Volume 1, Issue 2
This newsletter supports the Colorado
Renewable Energy Coalition's Rural Initiative by bringing information to rural
constituencies throughout Colorado's 2004 Legislative Session. If you
would like to be added to the distribution list or taken off please send an
email to mailto:frankt@workinglandscapes.com.
Rural Leaders sponsoring five community
forums in January on the emerging opportunities for rural economic growth
through renewable energy development.
This week, community forums will take place in Akron, on Thursday,
January 8 and in Burlington, on Friday, January 9. By attending one
of these forums you will meet state and local leaders discussing Colorado's
renewable energy potential, local and state initiatives, the economics of
renewable energy and needed local action.
Three additional forums will be held later in January at
Greeley, Monte Vista and Grand Junction.
The forums' sponsors include Colorado Farm Bureau, Rocky Mountain
Farmer's Union, Independent Bankers of Colorado, Colorado Governor's Office of
Energy Management & Conservation, CSU Cooperative Extension, Colorado
Association of Conservation Districts, Colorado League of RC&D Councils,
East Central RC&D, Washington County Economic Development Corporation, and
the City of Burlington.
Upcoming
Community Forums: "Colorado's Energy Harvest: What's Next?"
Akron - Thursday, January
8, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Washington County Events Center, 552 W. Second
Burlington - Friday, January
9, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Old Town Museum, 420 S. 14th Street
Greeley - Monday, January
12, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Weld County Extension Office, Island Grove
Park, 525 N. 15th Avenue
Monte Vista - Tuesday, January
20, Monte Vista Cooperative, 1601 E. Highway 160
Grand Junction - Wednesday,
January 21, Mesa State Liff Auditorium
For more information contact Ben Way, Rocky Mountain
Farmer's Union, ben.way@rmfu.org,
303-283-3530.
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In the Hands of Rural
Leaders
“Rural economic development is my passion and why the Colorado
Legislature needs to adopt a Renewable Energy Standard,” explained Speaker of
the House Lola Spradley to a group of rural leaders. The Bill she
will introduce this month would create an immediate market for electricity
generated from wind, solar, small hydro and biomass. Over the next 10
years rural investment totaling one billion dollars could be expected.
While a similar bill passed the House by a substantial margin last year,
it failed in the Senate. The big question is whether rural senators will support
Spradley’s bill. In many respects, the fate of the Renewable Energy
Standard legislation is in the hands of rural leaders.
While many rural organizations are in support of the bill, the Colorado
Rural Electric Association (CREA) remains opposed even though its member REA’s
are exempt from the Bill’s provisions. Only Xcel Energy and
Aquila are subject to the bill and both have testified in
support.
Language added to this year’s Bill insures that the four REA’s purchasing
power from Xcel are protected from possible rate impacts associated with the
Renewable Energy Standard. This new language addresses the stated source
of CREA’s opposition and should improve chances for the Bill’s adoption.
Now, hopefully, rural leaders can become more united in their passion for
economic development.
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Upcoming Events:
(Future newsletters will provide additional information on
the events listed below)
2004 Colorado Agricultural Outlook
Forum
"Profits Outside the Box: Agri-Energy and
Beyond"
Renaissance Denver Hotel - 3801 Quebec
Street
Thursday, February 19, 2004
Colorado Wind and Distributed Energy: Renewables
for Rural Prosperity Conference (CWADE)
Doubletree Hotel, in Colorado
Springs
April 13-14, 2004
This second biennial conference is being held by the
Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) and the U.S.
Department of Energy's Wind Powering America.
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Colorado Working Landscapes (CWL), a private non-profit
corporation, is a landowner-driven public policy forum where multiple
viewpoints can be expressed and shared understanding achieved leading to win-win
solutions to land use and other natural resource issues.