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 Tony's Newsletter

Tracking Public Policy for Colorado's Renewable Energy Farmer's Network
From Colorado Working Landscapes, January 29, 2004, Volume 1, Issue 3
 
This newsletter supports the Colorado Renewable Energy Coalition's Rural Initiative by bringing information to rural constituencies during Colorado's 2004 Legislative Session.  The Coalition is currently composed of more than 100 businesses, cities and counties, economic development groups, unions, agricultural groups, and other advocacy organizations.  If you would like to be added to the distribution list or taken off please send an email to mailto:frankt@workinglandscapes.com.
 
Renewable Energy Standard Bill Introduced in the House
On Wednesday, January 28 House Speaker Lola Spradley was joined by legislators from both parties at a press conference to announce the introduction of House Bill 04-1273 pertaining to the establishment of a renewable energy standard.  The bill would require investor-owned utilities to provide 900 megawatts of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010 and 1,800 megawatts by 2020.  It has been assigned to House Transportation and Energy Committee.  
 
Spradley highlighted reasons for the bills introduction:  "One is rural economic development; it provides strong support for our agricultural community.  It also provides diversity for our energy sources in this state. . . . It will help urban customers as well as rural customers to be able to maintain affordability in ever increasing energy rates.  This is a win-win for everybody."   
 
Speaker Spradley, R-Beulah, was joined by Rep. Alice Madden, D-Boulder, Sen. Ken Kester, R-Las Animas, and Sen. Terry Phillips, D-Louisville.  All agreed with Senator Phillips' statement that "their joint sponsorship of HB04-1273 demonstrates that renewable energy is not a partisan issue." 
 
For information on this bill and others view the Colorado General Assembly's web site at http://www.leg.state.co.us/.  If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, you can view the entire bill in a PDF file by clicking this link: HB04-1273.      
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Colorado Farm Bureau supporting renewable energy standard legislation

On Tuesday the Colorado Farm Bureau's Board voted in support of Speaker Spradley's renewable energy standard legislation that was introduced the afternoon of Wednesday, January 28.  Board President Allen Foutz said, "Renewable fuels are not a concept of the future; they are a viable and sustainable source of energy for our present needs.  As agriculture producers in the state of Colorado, we must take an active part in our nation's energy dilemma." 

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Renewable Energy Cooperatives Bill introduced in the Senate
Senator Terry Phillips, D-Louisville introduced SB04-168 pertaining to the formation of renewable energy cooperatives.  It was introduced on Tuesday, January 27 and assigned to the Senate Business Affairs and Labor Committee.  The bill authorizes the creation of renewable energy cooperatives that will sell electricity from renewable resources and technologies at wholesale.  In addition, it allows the Colorado Agricultural Development Authority  and the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority to issue revenue bonds for the construction of renewable energy generation facilities and electric transmission lines.  The bill requires that the bonds be repaid from revenues derived from the use of the generation facilities or transmission lines. 
 
Stemming from the bill's introduction, the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Cooperative Development Center has established an informal working group to begin development of a "business plan" that will assist local communities considering formation of a renewable energy cooperative.  This group includes representation from agriculture, utilities, finance and wind developers.  For more information, email RMFU Executive Director, Ben Way: ben.way@rmfu.org.   
 
For information on this bill and others view the Colorado General Assembly's web site at http://www.leg.state.co.us/.  If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, you can view the entire bill as a PDF file by clicking this link: SB04-168
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Upcoming Events:
(Future newsletters will provide additional information on the events listed below)
 
Agricultural Leaders presenting renewable energy overview to the to Colorado Rural Electric Association's Board of Directors on Thursday, January 29, 2 p.m.
Leaders from the Colorado Farm Bureau, Rocky Mountain Farmer's Union and other rural organizations will be meeting with CREA's 26-member Board of Directors to highlight renewable energy information already presented at ten rural community forums across the state.    
  
2004 Colorado Agricultural Outlook Forum
"Profits Outside the Box:  Agri-Energy and Beyond"
Renaissance Denver Hotel - 3801 Quebec Street
Thursday, February 19, 2004
 
Morning General Session Topics:
  • Colorado Water Supply/Drought Update
  • Colorado Agriculture's Energy Use and Renewable Energy Potential
  • Agri-Energy Profitability and Rural Economic Development - The Minnesota Story
  • Promoting Renewable Energy in Agriculture and Rural Colorado - Two Views
Afternoon Breakout Session Topics
  • Large scale wind energy and community economic development
  • Small scale wind and solar energy
  • Biofuels & bioproducts
  • Agri-energy cooperatives
  • Carbon Sequestration
  • Financing agri-energy projects
  • Innovations for profitability
  • Mitigating inter-basin water transfers
  • Creative approaches to ag water protection
  • Legislative and state fiscal update
To register or for more information go to http://www.coloradoagforum.com/ or call 303-477-0076 x210.
 
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. 
 
For more information contact Megan Castle, Public Information Office, megan.castle@state.co.us, 303-894-2383 x1211.
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Colorado Working Landscapes (CWL) is a landowner-driven public policy forum seeking to build communications bridges between divergent interest groups while striving for win-win solutions.  Our goal is to keep Colorado's agricultural landscapes in tact, both economically and ecologically, while respecting private property rights and local control.