Rural energy bill up for debate again in Colorado

Colorado Republicans are launching their efforts to undo some left-leaning proposals adopted last year.

A Senate committee controlled by Democrats is scheduled to consider a GOP proposal on Wednesday to strike a new law that dramatically raises renewable energy requirements for Colorado’s rural cooperative electric associations.

The law requires Colorado’s rural cooperative electric associations to get 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020, up from 10 percent. That’s a lower threshold than required of electricity providers serving most Coloradans, but Republicans argue that rural residents can’t afford the upgrade.

Democrats are giving the energy proposal a chilly reception, saying they’d rather focus on capping electricity rate hikes to 2 percent.