Regional
(2010-07-28)
DENVER, CO
(KUNC) -
Colorado voters were the first in the nation to adopt a renewable energy standard. Today, the state's plan to develop clean energy and fight climate change was the focus of an international forum in Denver. Governor Bill Ritter says a renewable electricity standard needs to be included in national energy legislation. Ritter's spokesman Evan Dreyer says Colorado's robust renewable energy requirement - second only to California's - has made the state a hub for clean energy production and research. He says one of the best examples is Danish company Vestas Wind Systems, which decided to locate four manufacturing facilities in Colorado."That's 2500 jobs; it's a billion dollar capital investment. Their North American manufacturing hub is here in Colorado thanks to a renewable electricity standard. It's a model or a template that is successful, it's a job creator, it's working in Colorado - and it can work for the rest of the country."
The U.S. Senate is grappling with energy legislation this week. Dreyer says adopting a federal renewable electricity standard would do a lot - not only in terms of fighting climate change, but also for the nation's economic recovery. Today's discussion was part of the 2010 Biennial of the Americas Celebration, set to wrap up at the end of this week.
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