June 15, 2012 03:44 PM UTC

Hickenlooper Really Making Conservationists Nervous

• 0 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

It’s one thing to make bad jokes about how you can drink fracking fluid. But here’s a statement from Colorado Conservation Voters yesterday that begins to show real concern Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) may “turning back the clock” on renewable energy in Colorado:

Elise Jones, Executive Director, Colorado Environmental Coalition:

“It was not long ago that the Colorado Public Utilities Commission was a strong champion and national leader in advancing the development of clean, renewable wind and solar energy in our state.  With his PUC appointments, Governor Hickenlooper has cast doubt on whether he will continue to drive Colorado toward a clean energy future. [Pols emphasis]

Coloradans have made it abundantly clear that they want the state to continue to lead on renewable energy, that they are not interested in turning back the clock to rely on yesterday’s dirty energy sources that pollute our air and harm our planet. It’s time to see a signal from Governor Hickenlooper that he is ready to get to work building on Colorado’s strong clean energy foundation.”

Harry Riegle, Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado:

“If the Governor’s reason for appointing Pam Patton to the PUC was to gain a progressive voice for rural electric associations (REA’s) on the Public Utilities Commission, he has come up short. Ms. Patton has not supported renewable energy proposals during her tenure on the board of the La Plata Electric Association nor has she been an advocate for progressive policies. In fact Pam was part of the LPEA board which opposed Amendment 37, which was overwhelmingly approved by Colorado voters in 2004.

Since then she has consistently voted against motions for renewable energy brought forward by other LPEA board members. Governor Hickenlooper’s appointment does not bode well for the large majority of Coloradans who are strongly in favor of continuing Colorado’s leadership in transitioning to a future powered not by dirty coal, but by the sun and the wind.”

The appointment of Pam Patton to the Public Utilities Commission follows the recent appointment of former Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) chairman Josh Epel. Depending on how relations with these appointees evolve, there’s concern that conservation and renewable energy could find itself without a good-faith advocate on the PUC.

And it increasingly seems like that’s what Hickenlooper wants.