Why Not Ohio? Colorado Sets New Energy Economic Program

[irishbobcat]

Nice, smart, thought out answer...ha ha ha

[Rick Rowlands]

Why not Ohio?  Because you wish it!

[irishbobcat]

Why Not Ohio? Colorado Sets New Energy Economic Program
Advancing Colorado's New Energy Economy
  Mar 11, 2010 Denver Post   
By Gov. Bill Ritter Jr.

Congratulations to the state legislature for giving final approval this week to landmark legislation that keeps Colorado at the epicenter of America's New Energy Economy and once again demonstrates how we are transforming the country's energy, economic and environmental future.

House Bill 1001 requires our largest utility companies to generate 30 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. Our new 30 percent standard will be the best in the Rocky Mountain West and one of the highest nationally.

More importantly, it will continue to position Colorado as a national pace-setter for creating jobs, strengthening our economy and protecting our environment.

We are leading America toward a clean energy future by strengthening our ability to compete nationally and internationally for service and manufacturing jobs. We are spurring new innovations and new energy technologies. We are moving closer to energy independence by expanding homegrown energy supplies. And we are ensuring stable, reliable, sustainable and affordable energy for all Coloradans.

HB 1001 is just the latest step in our ambitious efforts to build a New Energy Economy here in Colorado. Our commitment to a clean energy future has attracted companies like Vestas, the world's largest manufacturer of wind turbines, and SMA Solar, one of the world's leading producers of solar inverters. These two companies are adding up to 3,200 Colorado jobs to the state's workforce.

And they aren't alone. Innovative companies like Solix Biofuels and Abound Solar are spinning out of our research universities. Firms like Ascent Solar, Siemens Wind, RePower, SunRun and Solar City are providing new opportunities, strengthening communities and changing the state's economic landscape.

We've also linked Colorado State University, the University of Colorado, and the Colorado School of Mines to form a unique "collaboratory" with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden. Thanks to this unique, cutting-edge collaborative effort, Colorado is now home to the best energy research corridor in the world.

With Xcel Energy's support, HB 1001 will allow us to advance this New Energy Economy, in large part by expanding the use of distributed or local renewable energy such as rooftop solar. We anticipate the new 30 percent renewable energy standard will lead to large-scale clean energy projects and at least 100,000 additional solar rooftops over the next decade. The benefit of rooftop solar is that it doesn't need expensive, long-range transmission systems.

The legislation also provides a statutory framework that will not increase costs to consumers. In fact, because of the success of our New Energy Economy, we have seen prices come down in renewable energy, allowing for even greater purchasing power.

While no state or nation has been immune to the global recession, Colorado's New Energy Economy has been our brightest light. We now have the fourth-highest concentration of renewable energy and energy research jobs in the country. With the passage of HB 1001, this sector will only grow stronger and stronger.

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Why Not Ohio? Because Ted Strickland is tied to closely to Dirty Coal and Nuke Lobbyists. As long as Ted Strickland is Governor, we will continue to see Green Jobs go to Colorado and not come to Ohio.

That's why we need a Green Party Governor in Ohio.