Wind. 

Wind is the cheapest and most rapid form of renewable energy that we can deploy.  In fact, Xcel Energy has been aggressively promoting wind power in our state.  However, wind is currently limited by the lack of sufficient transmission capacity.  The Clean Energy Progress Fund will assist the Clean Energy Development Authority in its efforts to enable transmission for renewables.

Solar. 

We have three ways that we can use the abundant sunshine in Colorado to save us money and increase our energy security.

Solar photovoltaics (PV).  We’ve all seen the solar PV modules that are going up on roofs across the state.  By installing these panels, households can generate all their electricity needs right at home.  The Clean Energy Progress Fund will extend the rebate programs enjoyed by Xcel Energy customers across the entire state.

Solar thermal.  We’ve been using the sun for hot water heating and space heating for years.  However, the lack of rebates has limited the penetration of these energy systems.  The Clean Energy Progress Fund will provide incentives for households to deploy solar hot water heat.

Solar thermal electricity.  It is a little-known fact that Colorado can meet all its electricity needs at cost-competitive prices if we had large solar thermal electric plants (a.k.a. concentrating solar power or CSP) in the San Luis Valley.  In fact, Xcel Energy is already investigating the construction of a 200 megawatt plant (enough electricity to supply about 100,000 households in the next few years.  The Clean Energy Progress Fund will provide incentives to build out much more clean, renewable CSP power so we can begin to phase out our aging coal plants.

Biomass.

Colorado’s agricultural community is well situated to provide a significant fraction of our transportation fuel needs with clean, renewable biofuels.  New technologies are being deployed today that allow biofuels to be made from abundant “cellulosic” (i.e., crop residues, forestry wastes, and perennial grass energy crops). These biomass sources do not compete with food production.  As the Clean Energy Progress Fund assists in developing our own home-grown transportation fuels we will strengthen our agricultural economy.