-RPS bill introduced in the Colorado legislature: 2002, 2003, 2004 -Failed each time RPS: 3 strikes in the CO Legislature -Support due to promise of rural economic development RPS: 3 strikes in the CO Legislature -Opposition from rural electric cooperatives -Fear of electricity price increases -Philosophical opposition to ‘mandates’
“We are not opposed to renewables…is it the best public
policy to put into Colorado statutes a mandate for a particular fuel mix? We would also have this position if they legislated requirements on the use of coal, nuclear or gas” -Exec. Director, CO Rural Elec. Assoc. RPS: 3 strikes in the CO Legislature -After 2004 failure, RPS supporters changed tactics. (the 3 strikes rule) 2004: RPS by ballot initiative -RPS advocates bypassed the Legislature and the PUC, and went straight to the voters -An expensive and controversial strategy -’Amendment 37’ opposed by Xcel and many others -Proposed amendment more aggressive than failed bill 2004: RPS by ballot initiative -’Amendment 37’ approved by voters, ~ 54%- 46% -10% renewables by 2015, of which 4% solar. -Applied only to larger (40,000+ customers) municipal utilities (“munis”) and rural electric associations (“REAs”). -These munis and REAs can “opt out” if their members vote to do so. more details on how the 2004 amendment worked -Amendment set 1% cap on cost -Amendment itself vague on details - PUC filled them in more on the solar requirement -4% of 10% = 0.4%, of which half must be customer-sited -Xcel built 8 MW solar plant in San Luis Valley still more solar
Xcel offered generous subsidies for customer-
sited PV systems: $2/watt, plus another $2.50/watt for the future REC stream. 10/09 update: $2/watt, plus $1.50/watt 2/09 update: $2/watt, plus $0.70/watt 9/10 update: $2/watt, plus $0.45/watt 10/11 update: $1/watt, plus 9¢/kWh 10/12 update: $0/watt, plus 15¢/kWh 8/14 update: $0/watt, plus 1¢/kWh Differing views on the CO RPS…
Dave Lock, Executive Director, Colorado Municipal Utility’
Association, presentation at the ABA Renewables Conference, July 20th, 2005 CO RPS - summary Amendment 37, passed in 2004 Required 10% renewables by 2015 Applied mostly to Xcel - others could “opt out” Had a 4% (of the 10%) solar requirement CO RPS – 2007 update HB 1281, passed in 2007, significantly modified the CO RPS Raised the numbers to 20% by 2020 for Xcel 10% by 2020 for REAs, munis CO RPS – 2013 update •HB 10-1001, passed in 2010, significantly modified the CO RPS - again •Raised the numbers to 30% by 2020 for Xcel and Black Hills. •Still 10% by 2020 for REAs, munis •Changed the solar requirement to 3% of IOU’s retail sales must come from ‘distributed generation’ by 2020. – Half of that (1.5%) must be customer sited. CO RPS – 2013 update •SB 252 signed by Governor Hickenlooper 6/13 •Added coal bed methane and landfill gas to list of ‘qualifying renewables’ •Increased co-op renewables requirement from 10% to 20% by 2020 •Set a 2% cost cap •Has an ‘out’ via reporting