Bill Tracker

The bil invalidates state and local policies that limit the use of natural gas or propane system or appliances in homes or businesses except as safety purposes The use of fossil fuels in buildings is a major cause of air pollution. The burning of fossil fuels, natural gas and propone, for energy sources harms human health through the release of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur dioxide, and other toxic gases that collect in the atmosphere.  Building heating and cooling run by gas and propane contribute to indoor and outdoor pollution. They are the main cause of the climate emergency. This bill is prohibitive and would lock us into using an outdated and dangerous form of energy. We must achieve a net zero buildings stock before 2050. Ending fossil fuel use in new buildings and upgrading old ones by retrofitting to electric use creates new jobs, and saves homeowners money by omitting gas lines and reduces emissions indoors and outdoors, a health benefit. Energy efficient building investment is rising globally. League believes that an interrelated approach to combat climate change through energy conservation, air pollution controls, building resiliency and promotion of renewable energy is necessary to protect public health and defend the integrity of the global ecosystem.

In current law, Recycled energy is produced by converting the otherwise lost energy from the heat from exhaust stacks or pipes to electricity and that does not combust additional fossil fuel."Recycled energy" does not include energy produced by any system that uses energy, lost or otherwise, from a process whose primary purpose is the generation of electricity, including, without limitation, any process involving engine-driven generation or pumped hydroelectricity generation.

Current law at CRS 40-2-123 defines "Pumped hydroelectricity" as electricity that is generated during periods of high electrical demand from water that has been pumped during periods of low electrical demand from a lower-elevation reservoir to a higher-elevation reservoir.  According to the federal Energy Information Administration:   Because these plants require energy to pump water uphill, pumped storage hydro plants have net negative electricity generation balances, meaning that they consume more energy than they store. Most pumped storage systems require 15% to 30% more electricity to pump water uphill than what the water generates when it flows back downhill.

Further from the EIA, In Colorado 2020 Hydro power generation was 144K  MWh  Non-hydro renewables 1,392K  MWh.   Thus, passage of this bill to make pumped hydropower eligible as renewable energy would make only a very small addition to our current capacity of kinetic hydroelectricity.

Amendment in committee has clarified that the energy for pumped hydroelectricity would not include combustion of any fossil fuels.  With this amendment, the League has taken a position of Support for this bill.  

We consider public utilities for heating, electricity, and water to be essential for health and safety of all Coloradans. There should be no equity gaps in accessing these utilities for low-income households.  The League supports assistance for low-income individuals affected by energy policies.   

The bill changes the way utility assistance is funded by requiring $1 charge on each Electric bill and each Natural Gas bill issued by investor-owned utilities instead of depending on money available from the severance tax fund, where this purpose has a low priority in a long list.  

The bill modifies Colorado law by including Water in the scope of utilities and provides for assistance on water bills to be funded by an opt-in program by water utilities. 

Utility assistance will be provided through Energy Outreach Colorado, a charitable non-profit that has been administering the programs on behalf of the Dept of Human Services and the Colorado Energy Office.  The CEO provides weatherization assistance to low-income households. 

DSM programs consist of the planning, implementing and monitoring activities of electric utilities that are designed to encourage consumers to modify their level and pattern of electric and gas usage. The PUC with this bill will update the methods used to determine if gas DSM programs with electric utilites or alone are cost effective. These include:

*energy efficiency                                                                                                      *conservation                                                                                                            *load management                                                                                                    *beneficial electrification                                                                                            *demand response programs

There is a cost-benefit formula to use in the cost effectiveness determination which will include the social cost of carbon dioxide and methane emissions avoided, with exceptions, continuing into the future. Plans can reduce energy consumption or emisssions in their set targets. The PUC must set savings targets of maximum cost effective savings for utility and customers. Added to the bill is the possible new environmental regulations of GHGs and new technology impacts. So, beginning in 2020 and continuing in 4 years or less, gas utilities will apply to open a DSM. Science based research determines the social cost of both emission leakage in the full production of natural gas (extraction, processing, transport, delivery, pipes & equipment) including data gathered by the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission. Methane social cost will be set initially @ $1,098 per short ton and $46 per short ton of carbon dioxide.

To meet Colorado's Green House Gas road map goals, natural gas use in buildings must be reduced. Gas reliant heating, cooling and appliances are not part of a fossil-free renewable energy future. Globally, according to the UN Emission Gap Report, nations must reduce emissions 7.6% each year for the next 10 years to keep the temperature under 1.5 degrees Celsius. This bill helps customers use less natural gas by changing the ways to calculate costs and savings. Current policy does not account for the cost of pollution and health effect that fossil fuels cause and underestimates the benefits of clean technologies. 

The LWVCO SUPPORTS IN PART. The bill is another step in the right direction and we support the concept of what the bill is trying to achieve, but there are some concerns that need consideration. The bill is missing a set END DATE. Without an end date there are hazards up ahead. The bill is open-ended which invites non-compliance and creates a loop-hole.

We need to transition quickly to move away from fossil fuel use with a difinitive 10-20 year end-date. We know that renewable energy is clean, cheap and easy to produce.

Finally, Colorado's disenfranchised communities would remain vulnerable to health and safety problems continuously if plans continue into the "future" without an end-date.

LWV believes that we need an IMMEDIATE mobilization to protect our environment that is science based, just and equitable, and adequately addresses the SCALE and SPEED of the Global Climate Emergency.   

Update: This bill is now a SUPPORT upon learning before the hearing that a 10-year end date exists now as reflected in a released Environmental Impact Statement. A Colorado Energy Office and the PUC, along with physicians, environmental groups approve of the bill as a job creator, improved energy efficiency and lowering emission tool. Two energy providers want amendments, but agree on the social costs included in the bill. Further Committee discussion will follow. No votes were taken. The bill is schedued for April 28 in the House Energy and Environment upon adjournment.   

Update: The bill passed on a 7-5 vote as amended and referred to the House Committee of the Whole.           

14 Communities in Colorado have committed to obtaining 100% Renewable Energy by 2025-2035, another 35 communities have organized to advocate for stronger climate change policies. These represent more than 1 million Coloradans who are exploring ways to reach their energy and climate goals in their desired time periods. The governor supports/prioritizes local committments to 100% renewable energy. These goals have limited ability to be achieved due to the electric utillity time line set for these areas.

The bill requires the PUC to undertake a study of a Community Choice Energy (CCE) concept. Under CCE a community or group of communities may choose to purchase electricity from a wholesale supplier other than the local investor-owned electric utility. It would enable parties the meeting of renewable energy goals and to reduce their rates by allowing competition and local control over the supplier and energy mix without changing the local utility's status as sole supplier of transmission distribution, billing and customer service function.

The bill calls for evaluating the potential adoption of Community Choice Energy at the Public Utilities Commission that invites testimony and documentation from stakeholders, utilites, the public, experts on the subject, including regulators from other states that have implemented CCE. 14 states already allow choices. 

The PUC would answer 21 questions and topics in the bill of how this might work well in Colorado. The bill does not change statutes and regulations governing the electric system. It directs the commission to submit a report summarizing the investigation to the legislative committees over energy matters by Dec. 15, 2022.

League believes in the reduction of energy growth rates, environmentally sound use of energy resources and predominant reliance on renewable resources.

There is a scheduled hearing on April 29.

Update: The bill was amended, passed on a 7-5 vote and sent to Appropriations on April 29.

Buildings represent a significant source of green house gas (GHG) pollution in Colorado. Energy use and GHG emissions in buildings produce impacts beyond their walls including: costs to utility rate payers for increased energy production, community health costs associated with air pollution and broader societal costs of climate change ( lowered water levels, droughts, wildfires, ozone action days, and "SERIOUS"  bad air quality. Large buildings represent a disproportionate amount of energy use and GHG in the state.

Thus this bi-partisan bill addresses measures to improve energy efficiency by requiring owners of large buildings to collect and report on energy-use benchmarking data and conform with performance standards related to energy and GHG emissions and modifying statutory requirements regarding energy performance contracts.

Section 1 of the bill requires owners of certain large (covered) buildings, 50,000 square feet or more, on an annual basis, to collect and report to the Colorado Energy Office, the covered building's energy use. The bill establishes a process requiring certain electric and gas utilities to provide energy-use data to a covered building owner when requested by the covered building owner. Also, on or before June 1, 2027, a covered building owner demonstrate that, in 2026, the covered building met performance standards set forth in the bill. A covered building owner must demonstrate compliance with the performance standards every 5 years after June 1, 2027. The air quality control commission is required to adopt rules in 2026 or 2027 that extend or modify the performance standards. Thereafter, the commission, may, as the commission deems necessary, modify the performance standards by rule.

By measuring and tracking energy use in buildings called "benchmarking', building owners and tenants can better understand how their building's energy performance compares to similar buildings. We can increase the amount of energy savings, cost savings, and climate benefits by requiring less efficient buildings to improve. And with this policy living and working spaces can improve while helping Colorado lead in transitioning to high performing buildings.

A letter, last June of 2020 and recently updated, signed by 67 organizations and the LWVCO was sent to regulatory commissioners and State Staff, which outlines solutions with cost-effective policies that includes regulatory changes to be specific about emissions from buildings (transportation, energy, industry too), to decarbonize them. Also, two Rocky Mountain Institute reports, on their website, are intended to serve as a resource for federal and state policymakers, advocates, and organizations striving to contribute their part to limiting warming to 1.5 degree Celsius. The reports recommend  buildings as well as electricity, transportation and industry be the top solutions to achieve the goal by 2030. 

The League follows the fundamental principle of sustainability in seeking a balance in meeting current environmental, economic, and human needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet the same goal.

The bill directs the PUC to consider proposals for electric generation or storage using innovative energy technology as part of required Electric Resource Planning.  Projects are to be sited in areas of the State that have been economically affected by retirement of existing generation resources.  In 2019 LWVCO supported HB19-1314 Just-Transition from Coal-based Electric Energy Economy that aimed to assist “communities and workers whose coal-related industries are subject to significant economic transition.”   This bill is consistent with the goals contained in that plan.

Innovative energy technology is defined without specific examples of kinds of projects that might comply.  Minimum requirements for projects are:

• Generates or stores electricity without emitting CO2 into the atmosphere.
• Located in areas of the state economically affected by accelerated retirements of existing generation resources.
• Uses Zero-emission resources only (referring to CO2 equivalents).

There is already a regulatory process for PUC consideration of “new energy technologies” at C.R.S 40-2-123.  This process allows continued use of coal; carbon capture and sequestration; and integrated gasification; none of these technologies could be included under HB 1324 because they are likely not zero-emission resources.   Section 123 allows geothermal; biomass combustion; hydroelectricity and pumped hydroelectricity.  Section 123 allows full cost recovery through rate adjustment.   Among the differences from Section 123 is the requirement that the projects be sited in areas where communities are economically affected by retirements of existing generation resources.  Replacement of retired resources solely with renewable resources is not always practical with respect to their current locations.

Success rests on whether an entity with an innovative project can sustain their investment long-term in the affected locations. 

During the hearing the Sponsor and some witnesses gave examples of Innovative generation and storage that might be proposed to PUC such as:  Hydrogen, Biomass, or Geothermal generation;  Molten salts storage of thermal energy.

We will Monitor HB 1324 that offers a new pathway for transition away from using coal resources and jobs in new technology in communities where they are needed.   We request more specificity in defining eligible projects and recommend a life-cycle approach to determining how much CO2 is emitted.  

Update on Passage

House committee broadened the definition of regional transmission organization to Organized Wholesale Market (OWM) meaning an entity for coordinating and efficiently managing the dispatch and transmission of electricity among public utilities on a multistate or regional basis and added “meet emission reduction requirements” to its objectives.  The legislative declaration now includes that participation in OWMs and implementation of CETA will assist in ensuring resilience of the electric grid and resistance to (disasters and attacks). 

Further House amendments allow a utility to retain a percentage of savings from participation in an OWM for the first 5 years. PUC is allowed to waive or delay a requirement for a utility to join an OWM pending adequate policies for load flexibility, clean energy, efficiency, and emissions tracking. 

The GHG Pollution Reduction Roadmap, 2021 targets reduction in GHG pollution 90% by 2050.  Most GHG in Colorado is produced by electric power generation and by the transportation sector.   

The transition to clean renewable energy must be facilitated by more emphasis on electric grid modernization technologies and systems.  Current “investment in innovation is inadequate for the scale of the challenge and what’s feasible.”   ---2021 report by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. The Future of Electric Power in the United States.   Grid connections from sources of renewable energy such as wind farms and community solar gardens must be improved.       

A key priority in Colorado is to increase the number of electric vehicles, including trucks and buses, on our roads (GHG pollution roadmap).   Also from the NAS report, future electricity demand will be shaped by the widespread adoption of a variety of potential electricity-intensive and/or demand-modulating technologies such as electric vehicles.  “Widespread adoption of EVs may also depend, in part, to the availability of charging infrastructure across varying geographies and for all socioeconomic groups.  Over 40 million Americans report interest in owning an EV for their next car.  Large scale adoption of electric vehicles may necessitate the use of Level 2 charging [240V], which would increase loads at the charging point, as well as the system load profile.  From a residential perspective, EV charging could rival the magnitude of electricity load from heating/ventilation/air-conditioning.”

Expansion of transmission lines to provide higher system capacity to connect end-users to the electric grid is essential for moving our State forward in combating the effects of climate change.

Update. The bill passed committee with amendments to a “strike-below” amendment that resulted in essentially a new bill with improved language.  The amendments covered labor standards parity for projects, clarifications in language and, most importantly, addressing issues of powers and responsibilities of CETA and regarding eminent domain. CETA is to identify and establish corridors for the transmission of electricity within the state, subject to siting and land use approval by the local government with siting and land use authority.  CETA is to have the same rights and responsibilities as the incumbent utilities.   

CETA is managed by a board of directors including the Director of the Colorado Energy Office and 8 members appointed by the Governor, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.  There must be representation including customers west of the continental divide; utility experience; wildlife conservation and land use; organized labor; residential customers; commercial or industrial customers; renewable energy development.

The League supports this bill that will support expansion of renewable energy and contribute to our transition away from dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation.

The bill includes establishing CETA, Colorado Electric Transmission Authority, which is charged with Identifying and establishing transmission corridors within Colorado and to participate with regional organizations to establish interstate transmission corridors.

Several recently published studies have demonstrated that electric transmission build-out with interstate coordination can result in lowering the cost of decarbonizing the electric grid, reducing the need for storage capacity, and offering more efficient siting for wind and solar.

 “Over the past 10 years…  studies show that if a higher share of renewable generation is the objective, then a more robust regional and interregional transmission grid is the most cost-effective solution.”   A recent analysis shows that “the biggest driver in achieving a 37 percent carbon-free grid by 2030 could come from roughly $70 billion in transmission investment — a relatively small share of the $690 billion in total investment needed to replace fossil fuel power plants with clean energy and batteries. There are large benefits to power-sharing across regions with variable wind and solar generation, reducing the need for storage. Further, remote renewable power sources can be connected to electricity load centers- areas of power demand by consumers- rather than building solar and wind arrays near to cities. 

Transmission developments have slowed in recent years due to complexities of building massive projects across multiple jurisdictions …through legal or regulatory challenges.

In the current bill, CETA may help reduce complex challenges in funding, building, and regulations.

The bill also requires that electric utilities that own transmission facilities must join a Regional transmission organization (RTO) by Jan 1 2030.  These are entities established for the purpose of coordinating and efficiently managing the dispatch and transmission of electricity among public utilities on a multistate or regional basis. 

A further, parallel benefit in this bill is supporting expansion of broadband within Colorado by using transmission easements for building broadband infrastructure.  The Pandemic has dramatically revealed our state’s deficiencies in providing this service, especially to rural or under-resourced areas.

The bill increases and clarifies the rulemaking and enforcement authority of the PUC. It protects homeowners and businesses close to pipelines.(DEI) It clarifies and updates the PUC to collaborate on safety pipeline issues and comply with local and federal safety guidelines. It also amends existing penalties for pipeline safety violations. The bill will eliminate a gray area that gathering gas lines fall into, where neither the PUC or the COGCC were inspecting. This bill will give the PUC authority to do so. League believes that environmental planning and  management should include co-operation and co-ordination among state  agencies to create a clean and healthy environment for everyone.

This bill that we switched to Monitor due to some unknowns, then clarified after the hearing is a SUPPORT. The bill was heard on April 6. There were three amendments suggested, but none was voted on. The amendments suggested were: allow local governments/municipalities to work with the gas line inspectors; inspectors fees paid by violators would be determined by miles of pipe that are inspected; penalties paid by violators would pay for inspection fees and for public maps of the pipelines. The bill was laid over and being considered on April 15 upon adjournment. On April 15 it passed on a 4-2 vote. It was sent to Appropriations.

Update: The bill had a hearing on April 30 in Appropriations and passed on a 4-2 vote. It was referred to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation.

The League supports predominant reliance on renewable resources and the environmentally sound use of energy resources with consideration of the entire lifecycle of energy production.

The objectives of SB 161 are discussed in the GHG Pollution Reduction Roadmap 2020 calling for deep reductions in methane emissions from O&G industry to achieve roadmap goals for 2030; “the APCD staff anticipate proposing regulations to the AQCC in 2021 that will achieve over a 30% reduction across the oil and gas sector by 2025.  The majority of Colorado homes and businesses use fossil methane gas to heat water and indoor air.  … Requiring utilities to transition to lower emissions gas will create an incentive for investments in the development of biogas from sources [various]….” 

Using the Roadmap, the bill’s % reductions are actually more aggressive than as calculated using data in the roadmap from a baseline of 2005.  From pdf page 112 et seq. “The 1261 Targets Scenario for 2030 includes emissions reductions of 37% below 2005 levels from fossil methane end uses (exclusive of electricity generation).  However, Colorado does not have requirements for the state’s gas distribution utilities to reduce GHG pollution. --  [W]e are recommending legislation in 2021 to set statutory goals for the reduction of emissions by gas distribution utilities. The emissions reduction trajectory will be more gradual than in the electric sector, in part because there are fewer lower-cost technologies available…. In addition to requiring the use of lower-carbon fuels, the state could also set enhanced leak detection and repair requirements that apply to the gas distribution system. --[The] potential supply of biogas from waste is relatively constrained, probably topping out at 5-10% of current gas use in the state, based on the 2019 renewable natural gas study [Colorado Energy Office]… if biogas use by utilities stimulates a market that captures this methane, the reduction in emissions could be quite high.”

The bill targets GHG emission reduction programs for methane leaked from distribution and service pipelines: and CO2 emitted by customers as a result of combustion of natural gas/ fossil methane.  Utilities may also reduce their use of fossil methane by replacing with Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) to account for at least 35% of the reduction. 

From the Colorado Energy Office study report Renewable Natural Gas in Transportation 2019 definitions:   RNG: renewable natural gas. Biogas that has been “upgraded” using any of several available technologies, by removing CO2, moisture and other impurities. This leaves a high-methane content gas that is interchangeable with conventional natural gas across all platforms/applications, but has a much lower lifecycle emissions profile.  Lifecycle emissions reflect the GHG emissions of a fuel from all stages of the fuel’s life—extraction/production, transport to point of use and combustion. For vehicle fuel, also called “well-to-wheels” emissions.

The Bill includes hydrogen gas derived from renewable energy source as renewable.  Hydrogen gas can be recovered by electrolysis of water (H2O) for example using renewable source electrical energy. 

GHG emission reduction can be achieved, in part, by purchase of Emission offsets.   “With a carbon offset, a business, a government, or an individual can pay someone else to cut or remove a given quantity of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. … an offset is directly connected to a specific quantity of greenhouse gas emissions …on paper.  The bill directs the PUC to develop a program for tradeable RNG credits. 

Emissions reductions may be achieved by geologic carbon sequestration, a process of storing CO2 in underground geologic formations.   The bill authorizes COGCC to seek a permit from EPA for deep sequestration of GHG by underground injection. 

Qualified investments in RNG infrastructure, CO2 sequestration by injection, purchase of GHG offsets, and other PUC-approved programs can be recovered through gas cost adjustment. 

We support SB 200 as part of an interrelated approach using the best available science in combating climate change to protect public health and defend the overall integrity of the global ecosystem. 

This measure strengthens current law on greenhouse gas pollution by codifying the reduction targets in the GHG Pollution Reduction Roadmap and in considering the Social Cost of Carbon in AQCC rulemaking. 

The Social Cost of Carbon is not an aspirational goal; it is a measure expressed in dollars of the economic damage that results from failure to reduce GHG emissions.  The Social Cost of Carbon is a tool that informs policy decisions and helps compare policies. 

SB 200 creates an environmental justice advisory board and ombudsperson to assure outreach and communication to Disproportionately Impacted Communities.

Environmental justice considers systemic inequities in different communities, including exposures to pollutants resulting from processing and burning carbon-based fuels.

The League supports inclusion for success in policy-making by engaging individuals, households, and communities and supports social and economic justice for all American including health and safety. 

SB21 200 Furthers environmental protections by adopting measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and to protect disproportionately impacted communities

The Air Quality Control Commission is directed to:

Consider the social cost of GHG emissions

Require more stringent (than currently specified) GHG reductions

Direct wholesale generation and transmission electric cooperatives to file an energy plan that will achieve at least an 80% GHG reduction by 2030, or alternatively if no plan filed, achieve at least a 90% reduction by 2030.

Direct retail, wholesale and municipal electric utility and cooperative electric associations to reduce GHG emissions by 95% between 2035 and 2040 and 100% by 2040.

SB21 200 also

Adds GHG to definition of “regulated pollutant” and includes GHG in requirements for emission fees.  It also authorizes the AQCC to use these fees for outreach to and engagement with disproportionately impacted communities

Creates an environmental justice ombudsperson position and environmental justice advisory board in the department of public health and the environment

The bill allows Xcel Energy and Black Hills Energy to help their customers purchcase and install high-efficiency electric heat pumps, heat pump water-heaters, cooking equipment and other electric appliances and equipment where they make sense.

The utilities will develop plans to help replace natural gas- and propane-powered appliances and equipment  with high efficiency electric versions to meet energy saving goals set by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). The PUC will approve the utilites' plans. if they are cost-effective, reduce pollutant emissions, and keep the utilities on track to meet the PUC's energy savings goals.

Utilities will implement approved programs, including providing education about the benefits of clean and efficient electric appliances, training for workers installing and maintaining these appliances, and financial incentives for households and businesses that purchase high efficiency heat-pumps, heat-pump water heaters, and other electrification measures.

Utilities will publish annual reports on the impacts of their beneficial electrification programs, including energy savings, economic impacts, and reductions in climate pollution. Included in the bill is the accounting for the social costs of methane and carbon dioxide green house gas emission. Finally, it includes programs for low-income households or disproportionately impacted communities.

League supports the beginning of Colorado's shift away from fossil fuel use by ramping up energy efficiency and transitioning to clean, renewable energy to power our economy. We signed a letter sent to state regulators in June of 2020 that outlines solutions in this and other sectors.  The bill is scheduled for an April 29, Energy and Transportation Committee hearing in the morning.

Update: The bill was heard in the morning on April 29 upon adjournment in the Senate Transportation and Energy committee. It passed 4-2 as amended and referred to Appropriations.

The bill allows Xcel Energy and Black Hills Energy to help their customers purchcase and install high-efficiency electric heat pumps, heat pump water-heaters, cooking equipment and other electric appliances and equipment where they make sense.

The utilities will develop plans to help replace natural gas- and propane-powered appliances and equipment  with high efficiency electric versions to meet energy saving goals set by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). The PUC will approve the utilites' plans. if they are cost-effective, reduce pollutant emissions, and keep the utilities on track to meet the PUC's energy savings goals.

Utilities will implement approved programs, including providing education about the benefits of clean and efficient electric appliances, training for workers installing and maintaining these appliances, and financial incentives for households and businesses that purchase high efficiency heat-pumps, heat-pump water heaters, and other electrification measures.

Utilities will publish annual reports on the impacts of their beneficial electrification programs, including energy savings, economic impacts, and reductions in climate pollution. Included in the bill is the accounting for the social costs of methane and carbon dioxide green house gas emission. Finally, it includes programs for low-income households or disproportionately impacted communities.

League supports the beginning of Colorado's shift away from fossil fuel use by ramping up energy efficiency and transitioning to clean, renewable energy to power our economy. We signed a letter sent to state regulators in June of 2020 that outlines solutions in this and other sectors.  The bill is scheduled for an April 29, Energy and Transportation Committee hearing in the morning.

Update: The bill was heard in the morning on April 29 upon adjournment in the Senate Transportation and Energy committee. It passed 4-2 as amended and referred to Appropriations.

Update, consideration in the House.

Senate amendments covered Including direction to the PUC to adopt rules encouraging landlords and tenants in multi-unit buildings to share in the costs and benefits of installing new distributed generation facilities; donation of excess billing credits to  3rd party administrators for low-income energy assistance; certain size limits for renewable generation or storage in off-site noncontiguous property; and allowing small biomass electricity generation (present by Jan 1, 2021) to be considered renewable energy.  

The League supports predominant reliance on renewable energy resources and actions to encourage the use of renewable resources. 

This bill facilitates on-site distributed renewable energy (RE) resources such as solar panel installations and battery storage.  Additional RE resources beyond solar would be eligible for net-metering credits, an artificial limit on on-site RE system capacity is removed, and regulatory and technological pathways are modified for extending RE credits to more customers. 

The bill removes the current installation size limit based a customer’s historical usage, which is unrealistic in the face of predicted future usage, such as charging electric vehicles.  The maximum size limit is doubled. Monthly net-metering credits could be carried forward

indefinity as long as the customer is within the service territory.

The bill would allow customer-owned meter collar adapters in residential installations, which are devices installed between the electric meter and the meter socket box that allows the customer a connection point for rooftop solar or other RE and can provide precise, real time measurements of generation. 

The bill allows pooling of all distributed generation under a master meter on a property serving multiple units (e.g. an apartment complex or mobile home park) and allocation of RE credits among the individual customers, thus allowing more households to benefit directly from using solar power generation.

The bill in its final form reflected changes by significant amendments in Senate committee and at 2nd reading and subsequently Passed both chambers. 

Focus is now addressed specifically to reducing emissions of CO2 and methane as “clean heat targets,” which have increased (from 2015 baseline):  6% reduction in 2025, 22% in 2030.  More details are described for Clean Heat Plans (CHP) that must show baseline CO2 and methane emissions separately and present final calculation on a CO2e basis.  Reporting and monitoring requirements in CHP are more quantitative.  Clean heat resources are not changed except that “blue hydrogen” has been removed and the definition of “recovered methane” includes “methane that would have leaked without repairs of the gas distribution and service pipelines from the city gate to customer end use.”  Such recovery must be quantified as leak reduction.

AQCC must propose and adopt rules by Feb 1, 2023 for Recovered Methane Protocols for

• Inactive coal mines,
• Biomethane,
• Gas system leaks, and
• Crediting and tracking system for recovered methane.

PUC shall undertake rule-making for electric and gas demand-side management consistent with clean heat targets by Oct 1, 2021.

OGCC is to conduct study regarding safe and effective sequestration of greenhouse gases and report findings to the Governor and General Assembly by Dec 1, 2021.

The League supports the environmentally sound use of energy resources. 

We encourage the proposal to require gas distribution utilities to establish Clean Heat Plans for review and approval by PUC.  In particular, we support Demand-Side Management and Beneficial Electrification in Clean Heat Plans and are supporting HB21-1238 and SB21-246, respectively, for these programs.    

The Colorado Public Utility Commission serves the public interest by effectively regulating 35 utilites and facilities so that the people of Colorado receive safe, reliable and reasonably-priced services consistent with the economic, environmental and social values of our state. This bill modernizes the rules regarding distributed generation of electricity by requireing more transparency through additional disclosures from interveners and access to outside experts.

The bill directs the commission to adopt rules to require utilities, when considering any matter before the commission to provide equity, minimize impacts and prioritize disproportionately impacted communities and address historical inequalities. The PUC will consider minority, low-income, tribal or indigenous populations and risks resulting from factors as environmental vulnerabilities, environmental degredation, lack of opportunity for public participation. Also increased vulnerabilities due to an accumulation of negative or a lack of positive environmental, health, economic or social conditions within each group. That makes this a  LWV DEI bill.

The bill requires that the PUC consider the impacts on rate-payers. Further, regarding solar gardens, the bill requires a method of calculating net-metering credits to be specified in rulemaking. In retiring an electric generating facility the bill adds accountability for any stranded assets being passed to rate-payers. Finally, the bill requires the commission, in approving a resource plan, to include the social cost of carbon dioxide.

The bill adds protective and preventative guardrails around utilities from passing costs to ratepayers, through rulemaking, as Colorado transitions to renewable energy.

League has a social policy regarding diversity, equity and inclusion. This bill adds protections for marginalized and people who suffer systemic racism through equity protections. League supports policies that aim toward a predominant reliance on renewable resources.