Over the past years, electricity – from generation to conservation – has emerged as one of our greatest global challenges and opportunities.
In the 2008 U.S. election, presidential candidates took an earnest interest the demand for energy supply options in our country. The federal administration is committed to clean, secure energy, and is already taking action as part of the New Energy Plan for America.
At the state level, the Governor’s Energy Office is working to advance energy efficiency and renewable resources in Colorado. In the state legislature, 18 bills were introduced this year to encourage reformative thinking when it comes to utilities generation and customer use.
Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency announced an endangerment finding for carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, some of which are emitted via the electric generation process. The EPA found significant threat to human health and will likely add these emissions as pollutants under the Clean Air Act. Until regulation is finalized, the affect on utilities’ operations and customer bills is unknown.
These are merely snapshots of what is developing into our nation’s energy landscape. How these initiatives play out remains to be seen, but at we're taking an active role in the discussion to ensure reliable services at the lowest cost possible.
Colorado Renewable Energy Strategy
According to the Colorado Renewable Energy Standard, we are required to generate, or cause to be generated, electricity from eligible renewable energy resources (solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydropower and hydrogen fuel cells) in the following minimum amounts during each calendar or compliance year.
- Calendar years 2007 through 2010: Three percent of Springs Utilities’ retail electricity sales within the state of Colorado;
- Calendar years 2011 through 2014: Six percent of Springs Utilities’ retail electricity sales within the state of Colorado; and
- Calendar year 2015 and all calendar years thereafter: Ten percent of Springs Utilities’ retail electricity sales within the state of Colorado.
We are in compliance with the standard.
