Renewable Energy Standards Target Of Colorado GOP

DENVER (AP) - Colorado Republicans are lobbing their first shot at renewable energy requirements they say are hurting consumers.

The state Senate is considering a bill undoing a requirement that utilities get 30 percent of their electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar by 2020. Senate Bill 71 would roll that requirement back to 10 percent, a renewable energy standard utilities already exceed.

The higher renewable energy standard passed last year allows utilities to charge customers up front for the expense of switching to cleaner energy. Republicans say that it's driving up power bills and hurting consumers.

However, the Republicans< plan faces long odds in the Democratic-controlled Senate. A hearing on the bill Monday was canceled because poor weather kept some witnesses from getting to the Capitol.

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