Bill will help with timely switch to cleaner energy

Previously published in the Grand Junction Sentinel.

Regarding “Nuclear option – Bill mandates look at nuclear, other energy forms in region.”

Kudos to Senator Dylan Roberts for sponsoring HB23-1247, “Assess Advanced Energy Solutions in Rural Colorado.”  It’s a bill about opportunity – for Colorado’s energy future and for the economic future of our rural areas. 

As a volunteer lobbyist for Citizens’ Climate Lobby, I advocated for national legislation that incentivizes all the energy technologies listed in HB23-1247:  geothermal, clean hydrogen, advanced nuclear, carbon capture, wind, solar, and long duration energy storage. 

Nuclear power raises valid concerns, as noted in your article.  Climate change raises valid concerns as well.  Citizens’ Climate Lobby supports nuclear energy along with other technology options that will help move us quickly to 100% clean energy. The latest IPCC report takes a similar stance on nuclear power, as a potentially powerful decarbonization strategy that carries unique risks.  Every technology has its strengths and weaknesses, and different use cases.  If we want reliable, clean energy quickly, we’d better have a big toolbox. 

I’m grateful that Colorado’s leaders are studying a variety of options to meet the ambitious decarbonization timeline set in state law.  HR23-1247 earned the vote of nearly every Colorado legislator and the signature of Governor Polis.  It acknowledges that our clean energy projects should be chosen based on local input and careful analysis of the economics and safety.  The studies outlined in HB23-1247 will help Colorado plan a timely transition to less polluting forms of energy.