Wind and solar power aren't just for tree-huggers anymore

October 1, 2002 (from the Rocky Mountain News)

For those who think only "tree-huggers" believe in the power of the wind and sun to generate electricity, you might be surprised to learn who's reading a new study by the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies.

The study found that Colorado could generate 16 times its energy needs solely from renewable sources, namely wind and solar. The findings were put together for an odd mix of people: legislators, energy companies, farmers, ranchers and environmentalists.

"It's interesting the kinds of alliances forming around this, like between rural Republican legislators and environmentalists," said Claudia Putnam, spokeswoman for the Land and Water Fund.

Using satellite technology to inventory renewable resources, the Land and Water Fund published the findings in its "Renewable Energy Atlas of the West," which maps the potential for wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy in 11 western states, including Colorado.

The study estimates that Colorado has the potential to generate 601 million megawatts of electricity from wind alone. A megawatt is the amount of power needed for a community of about 1,000 people.

Wind power currently makes up only about 1 percent of Colorado's electricity generation mix. Coal is the state's main fuel source for power generation at 81 percent, followed by natural gas at 15 percent.

"This is the first time this information on renewable energy has ever been put in one place," she said. "We're building the business case for renewable energy."

Tony Gagliano, of the National Conference of State Legislatures, said legislative interest in renewables has increased for several reasons: the economic development potential, especially in rural areas; the volatility of the natural gas market; the California energy crisis; consumer demand; and population increases in the western United States.

"Lawmakers increasingly want to protect consumers from the price volatility of traditional fuel supplies," Gagliano said.

Renewable energy sources are also gaining favor because they're becoming more cost-effective. The cost of producing energy from wind, for example, is down about 80 percent from 10 years ago.

"Renewables are becoming economically competitive, without even looking at the green benefits that come along with them," Putnam said.

Still, the push for renewables has its critics.

"To say Colorado could produce 16 times its total energy needs from renewables seems like fantasy land to me," said Marlo Lewis Jr., senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., a public policy group.

"One of the disadvantages of many renewables is that they're very land intensive," Lewis said. "If you covered the Rockies with wind turbines . . . or huge tracts of land with solar panels, you'd destroy the state's economy and do a helluva lot of environmental damage."

The Land and Water Fund is using the analysis in a related effort to develop a comprehensive clean energy plan for the West, Putnam said.

The atlas is available in print form by calling 303-444-1188, Ext. 216, or can be downloaded at no cost at www.energyatlas.org.