Sunday, March 14, 2010

Gov. Bill Ritter: Advancing Colorado's New Energy Economy

Here's an opinion piece in the Denver Post from Colorado Governor Bill Ritter on Colorado's "New Energy Economy". Progress towards this goal is happening on several fronts. First, the Colorado legislature just upped the amount of electricity that Colorado must acquire from renewable energy sources from 20% to 30% by 2020. Second, Colorado is home to a "research corridor" of universities and laboratories devoted to the advancement clean energy technology. Finally, there are numerous clean tech companies (smart grid, thin-film PV, wind turbines, etc.) that are setting up shop in Colorado due to the friendly clean energy environment and copious amounts of brain power in this state. My hope that Colorado would be the clean energy thought leader of the United States is starting to come to fruition. Are you excited?

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Wishful Thinking

*Before adding PV, wind, or solar thermal to your residential or commercial structure, the first step is to analyze this structure's energy consumption through a professional energy audit. I'd like to see some public education on the importance of an energy audit for any structure. Remember Smokey the Bear's forest fire shtick drilled into our heads over the last few decades? How about something like, "Henry the House" desperately wanting to know how much energy he consumes and wastes throughout the day?

*With over 300 sunny days a year on the Front Range is it too much to ask for solar PV and thermal modules on every residential and commercial unit (after an energy audit of course)?


*How about affordable plug-in electric cars that go more than 100 miles on a charge with PV and wind powered recharging stations?

*Dreaming of companies large and small adopting business sustainability practices to maximize profits, reduce their carbon footprint, and enhance the lives of their employees and the communities that surround them.

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