Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter knows the future is renewable. Ritter and Colorado Democrats announced the first of what could be a dozen bills last week aimed at making Colorado a leader in renewable energy. “The new energy economy is not just a slogan. It’s here already and it’s here to stay,” said House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder.

The bills will speed the adoption of renewable energy sources, create transmission lines, tax breaks for homes and schools that use renewable energy and subsidies for large renewable projects. People against the bills claim the market should be the one sorting out what energy sources Colorado should use, but supporters of the initiative say it will be a boon both environmental and economic. They want to build upon the momentum started two years ago when voters approved Amendment 37, that required utilities to get 10 percent of there power from renewables by 2015.

Ritter plans on drawing experience from the expertise at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden and other federal facilities and universities, Colorado could become a magnet for the industry, attracting manufacturers as well as more wind farms. Colorado also has an abundance of wind and sunny days. The advocacy and trade group American Wind Energy Association rates Colorado as the 11th windiest state in the country and roughly 10th in wind power produced.

“The voters have given us a direction and we’re trying to fulfill that direction and go from potential to reality,” said Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Golden.

Sponsors of the proposal to raise the renewable energy standard to 20 percent say it will cost typical residential and commercial customers less than a dollar a month on their bills. Amendment 37 caps price rises at 1 percent, and if consumers’ rates rise more than that because of the measure, the requirement is nullified.