Bighorn Photo voltaic in Colorado. Credit score: McCarthy Constructing Cos.
The Colorado Renewable Vitality Siting Coalition at the moment celebrated the signing of Senate Invoice 24-212 (Native Govs Renewable Vitality Tasks) by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. This invoice offers assets to native governments to evaluate, web site and allow utility-scale renewable vitality initiatives, whereas contemplating group values, together with impacts to lands and wildlife.
Colorado has lengthy been a local weather chief, and presently ranks seventh in per capita renewable vitality manufacturing. To hit its purpose of 100% renewable vitality by 2040, the state would require an estimated three-fold enhance in wind technology and a five-fold enhance in photo voltaic technology. Surveys of Colorado residents proceed to strengthen broad curiosity in diversifying the state’s vitality manufacturing sou
rces with extra renewable assets whereas concurrently defending wildlife and different group values. Native governments, business and state businesses must collaborate and transfer shortly to web site and allow renewable vitality initiatives whereas avoiding, minimizing and mitigating impacts to wildlife and maximizing advantages for communities. SB24-212 takes a major step to make sure state businesses present native governments with the assets and experience to responsibly develop utility-scale renewable vitality initiatives.
SB24-212 directs Colorado Parks and Wildlife to take care of publicly out there maps of habitats the place utility-scale wind and photo voltaic growth may adversely affect wildlife populations, and to replace greatest administration practices to keep away from, reduce and mitigate impacts from initiatives in delicate habitats. As well as, native governments are required to seek the advice of with Tribal Nations for initiatives proposed within the Brunot Treaty space the place Tribes have searching, fishing and gathering treaty rights.
The brand new regulation additionally directs the Colorado Vitality Workplace (CEO) to develop a repository for mannequin laws that may function templates for native governments to undertake insurance policies that help each renewable vitality growth and wildlife assets. Moreover, the invoice directs the Colorado Vitality and Carbon Administration Fee to offer technical help for native governments updating their land use codes and assessing particular person initiatives.
Between now and Sept. 30, 2025, CEO and the Division of Pure Assets will conduct a research to evaluate native authorities allowing processes to find out if counties have the infrastructure and assets out there to web site and allow renewable vitality initiatives on the tempo and scale needed to fulfill Colorado’s renewable vitality objectives. The research additionally will assess the impacts of renewable vitality on wildlife and steps taken to mitigate these impacts, in addition to the usage of group advantages agreements to make sure host communities see significant advantages from the undertaking.
“Utility-scale wind, photo voltaic and battery initiatives are indispensable for lowering emissions from Colorado’s grid, particularly because the state has dedicated to sourcing 80% of its electrical energy from renewable sources by 2030 and reaching a completely decarbonized financial system by 2050,” stated Nelson Falkenburg, clear vitality siting affiliate at CATF. “Direct engagement with communities coupled with state-level technical help is vital to beat frequent hurdles to wash vitality siting. This invoice makes progress on each fronts, whereas paving the best way for future reforms.”
Information merchandise from Western Useful resource Advocates
