Colorado Lawmakers to Consider Pro-Nuclear Bill
Colorado lawmakers are set to consider their first nuclear energy bill of the 2024 legislative session later this week. SB24-039, dubbed “Nuclear Energy as a Clean Energy Resource,” is scheduled to go before the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee for first reading on Wednesday. The bill seeks to level the playing field for carbon-free energy […]
Despite skyrocketing electricity rates, former Gov. Ritter says voters ‘willing to pay more’
On April 11, 2016, former Colorado Governor, Bill Ritter, spoke to Colorado Public Radio host Ryan Warner about renewable energy and energy costs in Colorado. Warner pressed Ritter on the issue of costs, saying: Cost is central, central to the debate that is raging in the courts right now, in the state legislature, over the […]
Gone with the Wind: IRS can’t measure effectiveness of $14 billion dollars in green energy subsidies
A recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reveals that IRS tax subsidies to green energy operators have resulted in $15.1 billion in foregone revenue to the federal government, $13.7 billion of which was lost to renewable energy projects. The GAO has sounded its concern that Congress cannot evaluate the effectiveness of Investment Tax […]
Gone with the Wind: IRS can't measure effectiveness of $14 billion dollars in green energy subsidies
A recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reveals that IRS tax subsidies to green energy operators have resulted in $15.1 billion in foregone revenue to the federal government, $13.7 billion of which was lost to renewable energy projects. The GAO has sounded its concern that Congress cannot evaluate the effectiveness of Investment Tax […]
Energy Policy Center testimony on SB 44
Energy Policy Center analyst Michael Sandoval offers testimony on behalf of Senate Bill 44 before the House Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs on March 2, 2015. Testimony as prepared: Testimony on behalf of SB 44 CONCERNING A REDUCTION IN COLORADO’S RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD March 2, 2015 State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee Mr(s). […]
Big Wind and Solar Oppose Clean Energy
By Lexi Osborn In the upcoming weeks, House Bill 1118 will be up for debate in the State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee. This bill eliminates the restrictions on the hydroelectricity and pumped hydroelectricity that can be counted as a “renewable energy resource” to meet Colorado’s renewable energy standard. Currently, hydroelectricity is only counted towards […]
Rising Energy Prices Lead to the Highest Inflation Rate in 18 Months
By Henry Zhang On June 17th, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its monthly consumer price index report. This included statistics regarding consumer prices in May 2014 and year-to-year inflation. Of note is that in the Western Region[1], from May 2013 to May 2014, electricity prices rose 2.8 percent and total energy prices rose […]
HB 1113 Testimony, Bill Voted Down 8-5
Valerie Richardson of The Colorado Observer provides background on HB 1113’s 8-5 defeat in committee, as well as other efforts to deal with last year’s SB 252 impact on rural Colorado. Full text of testimony presented by the Independence Institute: Testimony on behalf of HB 1113 Electric Renewable Energy Standard Reduction, Room 0112 January 30, […]
Legislative Preview: 2014 Energy Bills
Current through January 24, 2014 Reform defeated: SB14-035 Renewable Energy Standard Repeal *postponed indefinitely* Senate Bill 35, introduced by State Sen. Ted Harvey, would have repealed “substantially all of the provision enacted by Senate Bill 13-252” by returning the renewable portfolio standard to 10 percent from 20 percent for rural cooperative electric associations, among other […]
Oregon’s Cannibalism of Environmentalism
By Brandon Ratterman Almost 60 percent of Oregon’s electricity is generated from hydroelectric power, which is considered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a renewable energy resource. However, the state is struggling to meet the mandated renewable portfolio standard (RPS) of 15 percent renewable generation by 2015, as hydroelectricity generated at facilities built before […]
Two decades is long enough for wind tax credit
If we had our way, there would be no tax subsidies of any kind for any energy resource. Since the wind production tax credit (PTC) is what’s currently being debated in Congress and on editorial pages across Colorado, we’ll address it. Below is our column that appeared originally in the Pueblo Chieftain on Sunday, March […]
30 percent higher average electric rates in states with RPS
The average residential electric rate in states with a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is nearly 30 percent higher than states without an RPS. An RPS is a state based policy that requires electric power “providers to supply a specified minimum amount of customer load with electricity from eligible renewable energy sources,” such as wind or […]
