Jan 6, 2008 5:18 pm US/Mountain
Enviros To Focus On Solar Energy, Healthy Rivers
By Charles Ashby, Pueblo Chieftain
DENVER (AP) ―
Environmental groups around the state plan to push solar energy, healthy rivers and smart growth legislation through this year's General Assembly, which convenes on Wednesday.
The groups, led by the Colorado Environmental Coalition, said they plan to push such measures as tax credits to homeowners who produce their own electricity, allocating additional state transportation money to local governments that implement smart growth plans and improving the state's instream flow water program by encouraging farmers to keep water in the state's rivers longer.
"This year we have set strong goals to protect the health of Colorado rivers, make solar energy more affordable and accessible and use our transportation dollars to encourage smart development that reduces drive times," said Elise Jones, the coalition's executive director. "This year, we want to take serious action to combat global warming pollution while increasing our energy independence and protecting our quality of life."
On water, the groups said they are concerned that the drought years such as those the state experienced earlier this decade could return.
And at a time when the state is expecting more growth over the next decade -- as many as a million more residents -- they want to find new ways to keep water in the state where it is.
"By passing measures to give ranchers and farmers the opportunity to leave their water in their local stream or river, we have an opportunity for a win-win in Colorado," said David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. "This not only keeps Colorado rivers vibrant and healthy, it also gives water-rights owners the freedom they deserve."
Other ideas the groups plan to forward include:
A solar power plant measure that would direct the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to encourage utility-scale solar plants.
A requirement for municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives to invest 2 percent of their retail receipts on energy efficiency programs.
Requiring new development to identify water sources that would serve those new homes and businesses.
Increase financial aid to fight forest fires in the state.
"We're essentially funding traffic jams and global warming pollution under the current system," Jones said. "Instead of rewarding bad planning with transportation funding, we should be providing incentives to communities to grow smart. We have the ability and the know-how to plan for smart growth. This means less time in the car, less global warming pollution and more sustainable water management."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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