Progress Colorado cannot distance itself from its funding by special interests while Rep.
Gwyn Green D-Lakewood/Golden once again fights for Colorado consumers.
In a 527 campaign piece recently sent to voters in House District 23, the group accused Rep. Green of voting for legislation that would increase the price of winter heating bills.
In fact, the bill would have actually saved Colorado customers $2 to $3 for each $1 spent. Opponents of the bill estimate that it would have cost residential customers $6 per year and businesses $22 a year.
Rep. Green voted for HB06 - 1147 that would have instituted programs to boost natural gas-related energy efficiency use in the face of rising prices for this commodity. Colorado Gov.
Bill Owens vetoed this bill. He also vetoed an anti-price gouging bill sponsored by Green.
Known as the "Fightin' Granny" for her tough positions to protect consumers, neighborhoods and children, Rep. Green said, "It's disappointing that Gov. Owens would not get behind a policy that would help consumers and business conserve energy. Recent worldwide events prove that we cannot continue to depend on foreign energy sources."
The natural gas efficiency bill would have required utilities such as Xcel Energy to spend at least a half percent of their natural gas revenues on energy efficiency programs. Xcel, who testified for the bill in committee, has a similar program in Colorado for electric customers.
Howard Geller, founder of Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP), Boulder, said that between 15 and 20 states have such programs. The bill passed the House, 37-26, on a near party line vote. It passed in the Senate, 28-6.
SWEEP's volunteer Board of Directors includes Bob Noun, Executive Director, External Affairs, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden. Rep. Green also sponsored a House Resolution to restore job cuts at NREL. Funding was restored, saving 100 jobs.
SWEEP promotes greater energy efficiency in Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. This is a high growth region where energy efficiency efforts have been lagging compared to other regions, air pollution is a growing concern and many new power plants are under development.