Report: Renewable Energy Bill Could Spark 20,000 New Jobs in Colorado
03/03/2010
The "Investing in the Sun" report details the economic and environmental benefits of increased adoption of solar electricity across the residential and business segments and comes at a time when state lawmakers are debating HB10-1001, a bill that would mandate investor-owned utility companies to boost their use of distributed renewable energy projects such as solar
"Solar energy creates more jobs per megawatt than any other energy resource. This study was intended to shine a spotlight on the real and immediate economic development opportunity Colorado could realize if a stronger statewide solar requirement were enacted," said Annie Carmichael, Vote Solar's policy lead for Colorado, said in a press statement.
"Investing in the Sun" claims the legislation, which would drive use of 1,000 megawatts of distributed solar energy, could provide a slew of benefits beyond new jobs including reliable homegrown power for 146,000 homes, $4.3 billion in economic output and save 6.8 billion gallons of water
"We can be the best in the West by rolling up our sleeves and putting Coloradans to work building tens of thousands of solar rooftops on homes, stores, and office buildings across the state," said Pam Kiely, program director at Environment Colorado, in a press statement. "Going solar is smart economic strategy, and a critical environmental solution-- and HB 1001 puts us squarely on track to get there."
The proposed legislation would also increase the overall Renewable Energy Standard to 30 percent by 2020, in addition to setting the requirement that 3 percent of total electricity sales come from "distributed generation" systems such as solar.
Vote Solar and Environment Colorado used the Job and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) model developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, as well as inputs and assumptions drawn from real-world experience of local Colorado solar energy system installers to develop the full report.
Project Announcements
PEAK Precision Manufacturing Plans Bowling Green, Kentucky, Operations
07/26/2024
Italy-Based Sipcam Agro USA Upgrades Wayne County, Mississippi, Operations
07/26/2024
Cleveland-Cliffs Plans Weirton, West Virginia, Operations
07/26/2024
IDEXX Laboratories Plans Wilson, North Carolina, Production Operations
07/26/2024
Germany-Based Ritz Instrument Transformers Plans Waynesboro, Georgia, Operations
07/26/2024
AirJoule Plans Newark-Wilmington, Delaware, Operations
07/26/2024
Most Read
-
19th Annual Area Development Gold and Silver Shovel Awards
Q2 2024
-
2023's Leading Metro Locations: Hotspots of Economic Growth
Q4 2023
-
2023 Top States for Doing Business Meet the Needs of Site Selectors
Q3 2023
-
The CHIPS and Science Act will bring jobs back to the United States
Q2 2024
-
The Bring Your Own Energy (BYOE) Party Is Starting
Q2 2024
-
2023 Top States Commentary: Top-Ranked States Have What It Takes to Win Mega Projects
Q3 2023
-
How to Overcome NIMBYism in Data Centers
Q2 2024