Gov. Bill Ritter yesterday marked the transition from a coal to a geo-exchange and woody biomass heating system for schools in Oak Creek, CO. The old coal heating system was one of the last of its kind in a school in Colorado. The woody biomass will be provided from wood pellets that came from trees killed by the mountain pine beetle epidemic. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs is providing $625,000 and the Colorado Department of Education is providing $1.5 million toward the overall project cost of $4.1 million. The project also includes the installation of additional energy efficiency and conservation components, such as new lighting. 977 fewer tons of carbon-dioxide will be emitted each year.
Gov. Ritter testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources regarding oil shale development last week. He renewed his call for continuing and completing the current research, development and demonstration process before the federal government issues commercial oil shale leases or publishes rules and regulations governing commercial oil shale development.
One barrel of light crude oil is now trading at $129.15, up $2.10 from yesterday.
As Colorado’s legislative session drew to a close, Gov. Ritter pointed out the following bills as noteworthy in the energy arena:
Homegrown Energy/ Net Metering – HB08-1160, cosponsored by Solano/Shaffer and Isgar
Utility Scale Solar Energy – HB08-1164, cosponsored by Solano/Schwartz
Go Green – HB08-1350, cosponsored by Buescher and Pommer/Keller and Morse
Low Income Energy Assistance – HB08-1387, cosponsored by Buescher/Veiga
Homeowner Association Energy Efficiency Measures – HB08-1270
Increase Energy Efficiency in State Buildings – SB08-147, cosponsored by Gordon/Hodge
Colorado Clean Energy Finance Program – SB08-184, cosponsored by Romer/Levy
Any of these are far better than what Republicans have accomplished recently: drilling more and issuing billions in corporate welfare hasn’t improved our energy portfolio or made this country safer. Thank goodness responsible adults have been in charge.
