Solar Power 2007: Second Golden Meter Award Winner

Colorado Public Utilities Commission honored with the 2007 Golden Meter Award

Wednesday evening in the Press Room at Solar Power 2007, Ron Binz, Chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), was presented the second Golden Meter Award For Excellence in Net Metering Rules by Claudine Schneider, President of the Solar Alliance. See the official press release from the Network for New Energy Choices in Golden Meter Awarded at Solar Power 2007.

The authors of the Freeing the Grid 2007 report (download the summary), the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), the Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC), the Solar Alliance, and The Vote Solar Initiative, selected Colorado for crafting a best practice net metering policy.

In his acceptance speech, CPUC Chairman Ron Binz said:

We think we're doing things right in Colorado and it's great to have our hard work cited by these groups. With the leadership of Governor Ritter and the Legislature, we're creating a good environment for solar and wind power.

Colorado Governor Ritter has delivered on his New Energy Economy vision by building upon Amendment 37 and doubling the Renewable Energy Portfolio standard for investor owned utilities to 20% by the year 2020. No longer exempt, municipal utilities and rural electric providers are required to generate 10% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

Colorado has vaulted from an NNEC net metering grade of “F” to an “A” tying New Jersey for the top spot in the US. Please review State Report Cards & Profiles for your state’s ranking.

For the first time ever, GUNTHER Portfolio is ranked number one (#1) on the regional TOP 50 Solar United Kingdom index. This has been a long journey, but the tougher part will be staying there.