The state of Colorado needs to stay in its current position of being a leader in production of clean wind energy. Colorado is one of the most important wind-energy leaders in the United States; Colorado generates the sixth-highest percentage of power from wind in the country. In order to maintain and increase our energy efficiency, we cannot allow legislative leaders of our state and even country to undercut laws that help increase our energy efficiency.
In 2011, 506 megawatts of wind capacity was added to our state; in 2012, it was 496 megawatts; and in 2013, there were just 31.8 megawatts added. As years pass, we are becoming less dependent on clean sources of energy because legislative leaders think that clean sources of energy like wind turbines are a waste of time and not necessary. As a Colorado resident who uses electricity every day, I feel more comfortable when I know that my electricity came from a clean source.
A higher production of wind energy would not only help the environment, but it would also help the economy as it would create countless jobs across the state. Do we really want our environment to suffer and possibly jeopardize thousands of jobs? Colorado must increase its wind energy production in order to improve the energy-efficiency standard of our state.
Zachary Damp
Senior, Bayfield High School
