A Look into the Future of Renewable Power?

Today’s Washington Post contains an article discussing renewable energy in Colorado during the last four years.

In 2004, largest utility company in Colorado fought against a ballot initiative that required 10% of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources. The initiative passed and the company, Xcel Energy, started work on the necessary changes. They were quite successful, meeting the new requirement eight years ahead of schedule! In fact, Xcel Energy has agreed to double the target to 20% of electricity coming from renewable sources.

Change in the source of Colorado’s power seems to be increasing, with wind-power capacity being added at a higher rate in Colorado than in any other state. By the end of 2007, wind turbines were delivering one gigawatt of generating power, triple the total posted only a year earlier.

This is leading not only to improved economies of scale for renewable energy but also to new jobs. ConocoPhillips, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Vestas, a Danish wind turbine builder, have all recently announced new job opportunities in Colorado.

According to the article, while Colorado was the first state to mandate renewable-energy use with a ballot initiative, now more than 25 states have mandated levels of renewable energy. The changes Colorado is experiencing may be coming to a state near you!

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