Colorado Passes Renewable Electricity Standard
In a tremendous Election Day victory for clean energy supporters across the country, Colorado voters approved a precedent-setting renewable electricity standard (RES) ballot initiative by a 53.4 percent to 46.6 percent margin. The ballot initiative, Amendment #37, the first ever-state ballot initiative for renewable energy, requires that 10 percent of the state's electricity come from renewable sources by 2015. Passage of Amendment #37 demonstrates that the public will support policies that promote renewable energy development even when faced with well-funded opposition from the utility and coal industries.
UCS played a key role in this campaign by contributing significant funding and staff time, engaging our members and activists across the country, and mobilizing other national groups. UCS members responded to a special fundraising appeal, helping UCS contribute more than $120,000 towards coalition ads and telephone appeals to voters. We also provided an analysis outlining the consumer savings, jobs, and rural economic development that will result from the Colorado RES. Visits to Colorado reporters and editors by UCS President Kevin Knobloch, Research Analyst Jeff Deyette, and Field Coordinator Kate Abend helped generate positive media coverage of the UCS analysis, warning voters about the deluge of misinformation in the oppositions' paid ads.
The victory in conservative, coal-dominated Colorado could open the door for legislative and ballot initiative RES campaigns in other states. Of the 20 states currently with a viable initiative process, 15 still do not have an RES. The initiative also lent momentum to a federal RES campaign by signaling to our leaders in Washington that given the opportunity, voters will support renewable energy. For example, Colorado Senator-elect Ken Salazar (D-CO) strongly supported the ballot initiative.
