The Colorado Senate approved a new Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) of 30% of electricity coming from renewables by 2020.  The  bill (HB1001) passed in the Colorado State Senate on a vote of 21-13 and it calls for an increase in the State’s Renewable Energy Standard from 20% to 30% by 2020.

This new RPS standard is second only to California in its promotion of renewable energy technology such as solar. California is looking at 33% by 2020.  Colorado will improve its green footprint with this new standard. According to Cooler Planet, “Colorado is a major producer of coal from one surface and three underground mines. Colorado is responsible for more than 25% of all the coalbed methane in the U.S.”  Increasing renewable energy sources especially solar will help to improve Colorado’s air quality.

“We are one step closer to being the best in the west when it comes to renewable energy,” said Pam Kiely, program director of Environment Colorado.  “We know renewable energy works and through the specific distributed generation carve out alone this legislation is expected to deploy roughly 700 MW of distributed solar, resulting in the creation of 23,450 jobs over the next 10 years.”

The legislation is now awaiting Governor Ritter’s signature and he is expected to sign.

Sources: Environment Colorado and Cooler Planet