Reported by Staff

At the dedication of the new Touber Building in Salida on Friday, Governor Ritter signed Senate Bill 174 intended to promote geothermal energy in Colorado. The measure was sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz and Reps. Christine Scanlan and Tom Massey, with Schartz joining the ceremony.

“Senate Bill 174 will help Colorado to begin to realize the potential of geothermal energy,” Gov. Ritter said. “Geothermal is a great clean renewable energy source, that can be a base load provider and help to bring the benefits of the New Energy Economy to rural Colorado.”

“Geothermal energy will diversify Colorado’s energy portfolio. This bill will improve cooperation between the federal, state, and local governments, strengthen Colorado’s energy sector, and create jobs for Coloradans,” Sen. Schwartz said. “I would like to thank Chaffee County for their efforts on this bill and the broader water community for the work on protecting existing geothermal water rights and those in the future.”

“Geothermal is an exciting clean energy movement with the potential to exceed even solar and wind in supplying the US’s electricity needs in the future. In fact, the state Capitol will be moving towards using it next year for the building’s energy needs,” said Rep. Scanlan. “I am pleased that we have made a commitment to strengthen this energy sector.”

In his remarks about the historic Touber Building, Ritter described it as a 21st century solution towards building sustainable communities.