Denver, CO – By unanimous vote, House Bill 1149, The Solar Home
Prewire Consultation Bill, passed out of the House Transportation and Energy
committee this morning. This bill, sponsored by Representative Merrifield (House
District 18) and Senator Morgan Carroll (Senate District 35), requires homebuilders to offer solar electric and solar
hot water heating as standard options to home buyers. The option would give
homebuyers the choice to add solar to their home during the construction phase,
much the way consumers are given the choice of adding marble or granite
countertops to their new kitchen.
“Today’s vote shows that the sun
is still shining on Colorado’s solar resources.
With a unanimous committee vote, it’s clear that Colorado leaders are focused on putting green jobs at the
forefront of rebooting the states’ economy.
“This
bill is a double boost to the economy. It gives Coloradoans the option to save
money on their energy costs as they invest in a new home and at the same time it
creates jobs across the state. This is
win-win opportunity for all of Colorado.
“Again
this year Colorado is going solar by implementing clean energy solutions that rebuild
our economy by creating sustainable local jobs at the same time we cut global
warming and air pollution. This bill is the kind of smart policy that is a
sound investment today and will help Colorado take advantage of the federal
support being voted on in Congress. ”
