December 8, 2022 – Earlier this week, AEE released findings from three new state-specific reports for Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona showing how joining a Western RTO would power economic growth. Check out what more leaders from across those states are saying about the numbers: 

Colorado Governor Jared Polis: “We are continuing to save people money, lower energy bills, and bring more good-paying jobs to Coloradans, and this new report confirms that a Western market advances our bold work achieving these goals. Colorado has committed to join a Western market by 2030, and we look forward to continuing to work with leaders across the region to lower energy costs while making progress towards our goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040."

Quinn Antus, Executive Director, Signal Tech Coalition: "This research proves that even without considering the strong climate impacts, Colorado's decision to join a Western RTO is the right one. The projected economic benefits are a win for Colorado's businesses, workers, and ratepayers." 

Ramesh Bhatt, Lead Volunteer at Sierra Club Colorado Chapter: “The Sierra Club is glad to see the potential for great economic and environmental benefits from Colorado joining an RTO.  Any action that substantially increases renewable energy generation, saves energy costs, and creates tens of thousands of jobs is certainly to be supported. We look forward to Colorado utilities joining an RTO and implementing policies that rapidly phase out fossil fuel production and use in the state and elsewhere in the region.”

 Tim Coleman, Manager of Legislative Affairs, Colorado Rural Electric Association: “As leaders for a sustainable future, Colorado Rural Electric Association’s member cooperatives are excited about the possibility of an organized market in Colorado, which will benefit our consumer-members economically while helping our state achieve its clean energy goals.”

Colorado State Senator Chris Hansen (D), District 31: "This study confirms what we in Colorado have known all along: An RTO is a great win-win, better reliability and lower costs. We must continue to advance the work in our region to better integrate our energy resources so that Coloradans have reliable power and save on their electricity bills. The state should move quickly to create the path to clean, affordable energy and I look forward to working with our state leaders to ensure Colorado remains on track, actively engaged with the rest of the region, and is able to reap the economic benefits tied to RTO formation in the West."

 Patrick Meyers, Executive Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT): "This report confirms that regional collaboration through a Western RTO goes beyond the creation of a lower cost, more reliable and renewable energy system. It can also help create numerous good-paying, permanent jobs for Coloradans, demonstrating what we have long held to be true: working toward renewable energy goals and strong economic development can and do go hand in hand.” 

Vijay Satyal, Regional Energy Markets Manager at WRA: “This study demonstrates clear opportunities to accelerate Colorado’s trajectory toward its ambitious climate goals, and for lowering energy costs for consumers and businesses. The timely assessment by AEE and Energy Strategies not only evaluates the advantages of a West-wide RTO, but illustrates how that system would reap economic benefits for Coloradans, which is critical for a decarbonized future.” 

Rikki Seguin, Executive Director at Interwest Energy Alliance: "Customers and businesses across the West benefit from clean, reliable, affordable energy — and an RTO can help accelerate the opportunity coming our way from the clean energy transition. Interwest is excited to see this report detail just how much New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado would benefit from an RTO with good-paying permanent jobs and enormous cost savings. It's time for the West to move into action and secure our energy system."

 Sarah Webster, Senior Vice President of External Affairs & Market Development for Pattern Energy: “Pattern Energy supports the formation of a Western RTO as a critical step to establishing a more resilient grid for the region. The coordinated transmission planning that can come from an RTO will help drive economic growth across the region while saving consumers literally billions of dollars.” 

Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council and SciTech Institute: “Arizona doesn’t have to choose between affordable energy and clean energy — we can have both. Joining a regional electric grid is the best way to catapult the state’s energy system into the 21st century, bring electricity costs down for ratepayers, shore up grid reliability and create thousands of new, high-paying jobs across diverse sectors of the economy.”