Gov Pushes Energy Office Revamp

Posted by Chad Vorthmann on Apr 24, 2012 in Energy | 0 comments

Governor John Hickenlooper took to the pages of the Denver Post today to push HB 1315, a revamp of the Governor’s Energy Office. The bill, up before the State Affairs Committee today, would extend funding for the Office for 5 years and shift the focus to an “all the above” energy policy according to Hickenlooper.

Thanks to the bipartisan leadership of Democratic state Sen. Pat Steadman and Republican state Rep. Jon Becker, we have an opportunity in House Bill 1315 to expand the mission of the Governor’s Energy Office and recast this agency as the Colorado Energy Office.

 

The new Colorado Energy Office will promote all types of energy that protect the environment, lower consumer costs and increase energy security. The Steadman-Becker bill will extend funding for the Colorado Energy Office for five years and focus the office on long-term energy projects that have broad job creation potential.

 

In short, this legislation creates an “all-of-the-above” Colorado Energy Office that builds upon our state’s national brand as a leader in energy conservation and renewable clean energy. It will also enhance Colorado’s reputation for energy innovation.

 

The Steadman-Becker bill focuses the state’s energy work on promoting innovative energy technology, no matter if the fuel source is wind, gas or coal, as long as that energy can benefit the environment and save consumers money.

Hickenlooper notes the legislation will help recognize the clout and impact oil and gas production has on Colorado’s economy, and give it equal weight in the new Colorado Energy Office. Under Gov. Bill Ritter, the Governor’s Energy Office was created to promote the “new energy economy,” and was focused solely on renewable sources of energy.