June 05, 2013 10:56 AM UTC

Hickenlooper Signs Renewable Energy Bill Today

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE #2: From Conservation Colorado's Pete Maysmith:

“We applaud Governor Hickenlooper for signing significant legislation into law which will expand clean renewable energy to more of Colorado,” said Pete Maysmith, Executive Director, Conservation Colorado. “The Governor’s signature today reaffirms that clean wind and solar energy are a critical part of the foundation of Colorado’s energy future. This law will help foster the development of homegrown energy and incentivize energy sources that benefit our fight against climate change.

“This is also a job creator the law will attract new investment that will boost our economy and create good paying jobs throughout Colorado. Finally, let’s not overlook the fact this once again highlights Colorado as a leader we innovate and move forward on clean energy while other states are fighting back well-funded dirty energy attacks to their renewable energy standards.”

And John Nielsen of Western Resource Advocates:

"This is an important step for Colorado's burgeoning renewable energy industry that will benefit families and economies across the state," said John Nielsen, Energy Program Director for Western Resource Advocates. "Along with the news that Xcel Energy is dramatically increasing its wind portfolio in Colorado, this is an exciting time from renewable energy in the state. Renewables are not only important for clean air and clean water, but more and more people are recognizing that wind, solar, and other resources are a strong economic investment as well."

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UPDATE: The Denver Post's Mark Jaffe reports:

The bill was one of the most hotly contested of the legislative session, pitting environmental groups and renewable-energy companies against rural cooperatives and Republican lawmakers.

There were marathon hearings and floor sessions that stretched into the night.

"Well, let me think about this a little more," Hickenlooper joked as he signed the bill. "Voila, it's the law."

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Fox 31's Eli Stokols has the story:

After nearly a month of deliberation, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is expected to take action Wednesday on a handful of controversial bills that remain unsigned.

FOX31 Denver has now confirmed that Hickenlooper will sign Senate Bill 252, which increases the amount of energy that rural electricity associations must draw from renewable sources. Backers of Senate Bill 252 had been cautiously optimistic Hickenlooper would sign it into law, but the governor’s office insists that a final decision wasn’t made until a meeting Wednesday morning.

A small signing ceremony and press conference at the Capitol is set for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

So far this month, Hickenlooper has signed nearly 100 bills into law, many of them at public events that have taken him to 22 Colorado counties.

But he has taken his time mulling over four final bills, including S.B. 252, which would require rural co-ops with more than 100,000 meters, and utilities that generate and supply electricity on behalf of member co-ops, to get 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by the year 2020.

As we noted yesterday, it always seemed strange that Hickenlooper might not sign SB-252, which was carried by Senate President John Morse and House Speaker Mark Ferrandino. If he was going to (once again) poke environmental groups in the eye and anger Democratic leadership, it would have made sense for him to kill the legislation before it got to his desk. We're surprised signing this bill was such an internal debate given that reality.

In the end, this is a decision that will please conservationists who have been much aggrieved during Hickenlooper's first term. It certainly won't put an end to tensions over energy policy in Colorado between the Hickenlooper and many in his own party, but it was a very useful political move. We suspect Hickenlooper knew this all along.