KC Becker to lead Colorado solar association amid uncertain times for renewable energy

KC Becker, who as Colorado House speaker authored key environmental legislation and then served as a federal EPA regional administrator, is set to lead the Colorado Solar and Storage Association at a time the Trump administration is criticizing renewable energy.

“This is a pivotal moment to leverage my experience in building a climate-safe future for our communities and position Colorado as a top-five solar energy state,” Becker, who begins her job as CEO of the association in April, said in a statement.

At the Statehouse, the Boulder Democrat piloted two major pieces of environmental legislation. Senate Bill 181, Protect Public Welfare Oil And Gas Operations, changed the mission of state oil and gas regulators from promoting drilling to protecting public health and the environment.

Becker was the lead sponsor on House Bill 1261, the Climate Action Plan To Reduce Pollution, which set greenhouse gas reduction targets for Colorado.

“Solar and energy storage aren’t just key to decarbonizing our environment and improving air quality — they have the potential to be powerful drivers of economic growth,” Becker said.

As the administrator for EPA’s Region 8, which covers Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 28 Tribal Nations, a key issue for Becker was enforcement of clean air and greenhouse gas emission rules.

An enforcement action against the Marathon Oil Company in North Dakota led to the biggest settlement under the Clean Air Act for a stationary source — a $64.5 million penalty and a $177 million investment in compliance measures.

The Suncor refinery in Commerce City, one of Colorado’s biggest polluters, was another target of EPA action under Becker. The agency rejected several state-issued permits as being inadequate and last July issued a 140-page report outlining a string of new violations, including the continued releases of benzene and other toxins into the air and water around the Commerce City plant. 

“EPA remains unyielding in its efforts to ensure the Suncor refinery complies with laws and regulations that protect human health and the environment,” Becker said when the report was released.

COSSA represents about 300 solar and battery storage installers, contractors, distributors, manufacturers, service providers and financing groups.

President Donlad Trump is focusing on domestic fossil fuel production, even trying to revive coal production and coal-generated electricity. He also has dismissed the Biden administration’s renewable energy policies.

“Now, more than ever, we need strong leadership and influence at the state level,” Mike Kruger, the association’s outgoing CEO, said in a statement. “I believe there is no one better to take over those reins than Becker and look forward to seeing the industry flourish under her guidance.” 

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, the former CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, an oil field service company, told an energy conference in Houston last week that “there is simply no physical way that wind, solar and batteries could replace the myriad uses of natural gas.”

Still, Wright singled out solar as “growing very rapidly in the United States,” adding “to the extent we can continue to move forward on storage, it can play a growing role.”