Colorado voters approve renewable portfolio standard

Portland, Maine (Platts)--3Nov2004

Colorado voters Tuesday approved a ballot measure that calls for 10% of all
utility electric sales to come from renewable sources by 2015, with 4% of that
coming from solar sources. Xcel Energy and other utilities in the state had
opposed the measure. The renewable portfolio standard starts at 3% 2007, a
level Xcel can meet, a spokesman said. Xcel Monday closed a closed a
solicitation for 500 MW of renewable resources, expected to be mainly wind,
the spokesman said. If 500 MW of wind is added to Xcel's existing 250 MW of
wind power in Colorado, the utility should be able to meet the new
requirements until 2010, but may fall short in the later years, the spokesman
said. The Colorado Legislature and Public Utilities Commission can modify the
renewable targets and court challenges are possible, the spokesman said. The
measure, which applies to Colorado utilities that have more than 40,000
customers, was approved by a 52-48% margin.

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