Colorado Votes On Renewable Energy

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Colorado is the first state to vote on renewable energy ever during the 2004 election. Surprisingly 52 percent of voters had backed the proposal while 48 percent opposed it. By 2025 Colorado hopes to push renewable energy up to 10 percent rather than the current 2 percent. Sixteen other states have similar regulations but those were passed through legislation. Amendment 37 this proposal, plans to affect 7 different utility company’s in the state. Most of the conservation will be made with the source of wind. Who is going to pay for this? Will the upfront cost effect those who are already suffering from expensive utility bills.
Amendment 37 has many benefits to include the following. Customers could save $236 million on electricity and natural gas bills, create 2,000 jobs, $70 million in additional income and $50 million in gross state product, $15 million in gross land leasing for those living in rural areas because of wind towers, and $107 million in new property tax revenues for local communities. Other important benefits are environmental. Coal burning facilities would reduce pollution in the atmosphere creating obviously a healthier environment to live in. The battle for the approval of Amendment 37 was one by 5-4 ration. Those who were in the loser’s bracket were looking on this end of the spectrum.
These voters’s were probably looking at the cost of this proposal. Even though the cost of such Amendment was repeatedly asked for, they have yet to come up with the grand total. The use of solar energy has some critics worried because solar paneling is very expensive. Xcel which is the largest company that falls under the proposal announced that it plans to increase natural gas prices by 26%. Another company Tri-State G&T announced a 14% increase in its wholesale electricity rates. These increases have many skeptical on whether Amendment 37 will actually save money or will the prices continue to rise eve...