Energy Legislation -- Keywords: energy, coal, electricity, oil, gas, solar or wind
Short Title: Renewable Energy Stds Solar Certif
Sponsors: TYLER / SCHWARTZ & ...
Existing law creates a renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) under which certain electric utilities are required to generate an increasing percentage of their electricity from renewable sources, in a series of increments from 3% in 2007 to 20% in 2020 and thereafter. The bill boosts these RPS percentages to achieve 30% renewable generation by 2020 and requires a portion of the RPS to be met through a subset of renewable generation, "distributed generation" (DG), which does not require additional transmission facilities to connect to the grid. Section 1 of the bill directs the Colorado public utilities commission (PUC) to consider employment and economic factors when evaluating proposed new electric generation resource acquisitions by utilities, including the use of "best value" employment metrics such as the availability of training programs and the wages, health benefits, and pensions that workers will earn. Section 2 defines terms, increases the RPS percentages, and, within each RPS percentage, replaces an existing carve-out for solar generation with a larger carve-out for DG (which includes customer-sited solar generation). Section 2 also directs the PUC to monitor compliance with the DG carve-out by issuing a new series of renewable energy credits (RECs) and by redesignating RECs already earned, when appropriate. Finally, section 2 limits the existing 1.25 multiplier for in-state renewable electric generation to utility-scale projects only. Section 3 gives the PUC discretion to incrementally reduce the existing standard rebate offer (which utilities must pay as an incentive for new customer-sited renewable generation facilities such as rooftop solar panels) from $2 to some lesser amount if the PUC finds that the market no longer requires this level of subsidy. In addition, section 3 requires that the rebate offer for DG systems decline based on market conditions, as determined by the PUC, but allows the PUC to adopt performance-based incentives for DG systems. Section 4 allows a utility to develop and own, as part of its rate base, up to 50% of the DG capacity it acquires from power purchase agreements and new construction if the cost is reasonably comparable to current market cost. Section 4 also requires the PUC to allow a utility cost recovery for the construction of new DG on a par with the cost recovery allowed for new coal-fired facilities. For large DG facilities of one megawatt or more, section 4 directs the PUC to require registration with a regional system for tracking renewable energy generation. Effective January 1, 2012, sections 4 and 7 require new DG installations funded wholly or partly through ratepayer incentives and rebates to be installed by licensed electricians or apprentices, where appropriate, and supervised by persons who are certified by the North American board of certified energy practitioners (NABCEP) or another nationally recognized organization designated by the PUC. Finally, section 4 specifies that DG program expenditures be allocated 10% to wholesale and 90% to retail, with residential and nonresidential retail receiving a proportionate share based on the utility's customer profile. The utility may retain its costs of administering DG programs, not to exceed 5% annually. Section 5 expressly authorizes any committee formed by executive order for the purpose of studying the desirability of regulating solar installers to submit a request for sunrise review by the department of regulatory agencies under the state's sunrise and sunset law. Sections 5 and 6 require that for projects funded by federal or state grants or by clean energy loans made through the state's clean energy finance program, the licensing and NABCEP requirements apply beginning July 1, 2011. Section 8 defines special terms used in sections 4 to 7.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy + Appropriations
02/05/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations
02/09/2010 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
02/11/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
02/12/2010 House Third Reading Passed
02/16/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government and Energy
02/16/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government and Energy + Appropriations
03/02/2010 Senate Committee on Local Government and Energy Refer Unamended to Appropriations
03/04/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/04/2010 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments
03/05/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
03/08/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
03/18/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
03/22/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
03/22/2010 Sent to the Governor
03/22/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: REA Elec Coop Bd Of Director Elections
Sponsors: LEVY / HODGE
Existing law allows cooperative electric associations to exempt themselves from regulation by the public utilities commission and become self-governing, under the control of a board of directors (board) elected by member-consumers (members). Current provisions concerning board meetings, notices, elections, and conflicts of interest lack specificity in some areas. Section 1 of the bill requires an opportunity for member input on matters to be decided by the board at meetings, and requires the posting of meeting minutes on the association's web site. Section 2 requires the association to adopt, and post on its web site, a written policy governing elections of directors and information about how a member may become a candidate for a position on the board. In addition, the date of an election and notice of the ballot mailing deadline for the election must be posted in advance. Section 2 also requires disclosure of campaign contributions by persons employed by the board. Section 3 requires that candidates for positions on the board be given equal access to member lists and supply contact information for use by members. Section 3 also:
* Requires the order of names on the ballot to be determined randomly, without automatically assigning the top line to the incumbent;
* Prohibits any candidate or association employee from handling cast ballots without a neutral third party present; and
* Prohibits the association from expending any money or resources, including mailings, to support or oppose a candidate in connection with a board election. Section 4 requires posting on the association's web site of notice of board meetings and all available documents that will be discussed at such meetings, at least 14 days in advance for regular meetings and as soon as possible for special meetings. Section 5 requires that, in case of any conflict between the provisions governing cooperative electric associations and the general law governing nonprofit corporations, the provisions governing cooperative electric associations will control.
Status
01/14/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
01/14/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy + Appropriations
02/25/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations
02/25/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/05/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/08/2010 House Third Reading Passed
03/11/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government and Energy
03/23/2010 Senate Committee on Local Government and Energy Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/29/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily
04/01/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
04/05/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
04/07/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
04/08/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Not Concur - Request Conference Committee
04/20/2010 First Conference Committee Result was to Adopt Rerevised w/ Amendments
04/28/2010 Senate Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Adhere
05/06/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
05/06/2010 House Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Recede
05/19/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/20/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/20/2010 Sent to the Governor
06/09/2010 Governor Action - Intends to Sign
06/11/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Transfer Ports Of Entry From DOR To CSP
Sponsors: MCFADYEN / HODGE
Currently, port of entry weigh stations are operated by the department of revenue. The bill transfers the ports of entry section by a type 2 transfer from the department of revenue to the Colorado state patrol in the department of public safety. The type 2 transfer will transfer all port of entry statutory authority, powers, duties, personnel, property, funding, budgeting, purchasing, and planning from the department of revenue to the Colorado state patrol. The motor carrier services division of the department of revenue remains responsible for personnel and facilities dealing with motor vehicle registrations, while the Colorado state patrol is responsible for enforcement-related and certain permit-related functions at port of entry weigh stations.
Status
01/15/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
01/15/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy + Appropriations
01/15/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy + Appropriations
03/04/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations
03/04/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations
04/16/2010 House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed
04/23/2010 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
04/26/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over to 04/28/2010
04/28/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
04/29/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
04/30/2010 House Third Reading Passed with Amendments
04/30/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation
04/30/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation + Appropriations
05/04/2010 Senate Committee on Transportation Refer Amended to Appropriations
05/06/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
05/07/2010 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments
05/10/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
05/11/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
05/19/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/20/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/20/2010 Sent to the Governor
05/20/2010 Governor Action - Signed
05/21/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Regulate Grease Collection & Disposal
Sponsors: HULLINGHORST / SCHWARTZ
The bill empowers the Colorado department of public health and environment (department) to regulate the collection, transportation, and disposal of trap grease and yellow grease (jointly referred to as "grease"). Specifically, the bill requires persons, facilities, and vehicles engaged in the collection, transportation, storage, processing, or disposal of grease to register annually with the department, which registration shall include completing an application, paying a fee, and posting a surety bond or other debt instrument or method of financial assurance. Individuals employed or engaged by other persons to collect, transport, store, process, or dispose of grease are not required to separately register. Registered facilities and vehicles must display department-issued decals. In addition, registrants will be required to complete manifests containing certain information related to grease collection, transportation, and disposal, maintain certain records for a period of 2 years and furnish the records to the department upon request, and submit timely annual reports to the department. In order to administer the laws related to grease regulation, the bill requires the solid and hazardous waste commission (commission) in the department to promulgate rules by December 31, 2011, and periodically thereafter. Personal use of grease requires separate registration under the bill. "Personal use" is triggered when:
* A person intends to use the grease the person is transporting or possessing;
* The person is transporting or possessing a minimum quantity of grease, as determined by the commission by rule; and
* The person is transporting no more than 55 gallons at one time or possessing no more than 165 gallons of grease at one time. Persons registering as personal users are prohibited from bartering, trading, or selling their grease. A personal user is prohibited from taking grease from a registrant unless the registrant gives the personal user written permission to do so. The bill applies to the existing provisions regarding solid waste-related inspection, enforcement, nuisance actions, violations, and civil and criminal penalties with respect to laws regulating grease.
Status
01/15/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
01/15/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy + Appropriations
01/15/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy + Appropriations
03/02/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations
03/02/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations
03/12/2010 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/19/2010 House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments
03/22/2010 House Third Reading Passed with Amendments
03/23/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government and Energy
03/23/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government and Energy + Appropriations
03/30/2010 Senate Committee on Local Government and Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations
04/23/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
04/27/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
04/28/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
04/30/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
04/30/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Not Concur - Request Conference Committee
05/05/2010 First Conference Committee Result was to Adopt Rerevised w/ Amendments
05/05/2010 Senate Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Adopt Committee Report - Repass
05/06/2010 House Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Adopt Committee Report - Repass
05/25/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/25/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/25/2010 Sent to the Governor
06/07/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Rocky Flats Plutonium Visitor Signs Info
Sponsors: MCKINLEY
The bill requires the posting of signs and supplementary brochures at entrances to the Rocky Flats national wildlife refuge that contain specified information about the presence of, and risks posed by, plutonium and other toxic substances that were used in the production of nuclear weapons at the site.
Status
01/19/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
03/09/2010 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
03/11/2010 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely
Short Title: PUC Prop Carrier Motor Trucks Enforcemt
Sponsors: PENISTON / KOPP
Recent changes to federal law preempted the state's authority over property carriers by motor vehicle, subject to limited exceptions for safety and insurance requirements. Last year's H.B. 09-1244 curtailed the authority of the public utilities commission over property carriers generally, but did not contain specific provisions for movers and other carriers previously subject to limited or special treatment within the motor vehicle statutes. The bill:
* Makes conforming amendments as required to apply H.B. 09-1244 to these special cases; and
* Grants enforcement authority to the ports of entry within the department of revenue to check for valid insurance.
Status
01/22/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
02/25/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
03/01/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
03/02/2010 House Second Reading Passed
03/03/2010 House Third Reading Passed
03/09/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation
03/18/2010 Senate Committee on Transportation Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/23/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed
03/25/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
04/07/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
04/08/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
04/08/2010 Sent to the Governor
04/15/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Reduce Sev Tax Credit To Promote Jobs
Sponsors: FRANGAS / ROMER
Under current law, oil and gas producers and interest owners are permitted to claim a credit against the state severance tax on oil and gas for property taxes paid. Section 2 of the bill reduces the amount of the credit by 50% for a 2-year period beginning on January 1, 2011. Section 3 of the bill requires the additional severance tax revenue paid to the state as a result of the reduction in the amount of the credit to be deposited in the following cash funds:
* 90% to the teacher retention cash fund, which is created in section 1 of the bill; and
* 10% to the small business credit cash fund, which is created in section 2 of the bill. The department of education must distribute moneys in the teacher retention cash fund to school districts and the state charter school institute for further distribution to public schools to be used for teacher retention. This money will be in addition to any other school funding. The Colorado economic development commission shall use the moneys in the small business credit cash fund for the purpose of increasing the availability of credit to small businesses as part of the Colorado credit reserve program administered by the Colorado housing and finance authority.
Status
01/22/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Business Affairs and Labor
02/09/2010 House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor Postpone Indefinitely
Short Title: Clean Energy Dev Auth Financing Limits
Sponsors: SOLANO / SCHWARTZ
The bill expands the types of loans and financing agreements the Colorado clean energy development authority may make to facilitate electric power interconnection projects.
Status
01/22/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
03/02/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
03/05/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
03/08/2010 House Second Reading Passed
03/09/2010 House Third Reading Passed
03/11/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government and Energy
03/23/2010 Senate Committee on Local Government and Energy Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/29/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily
04/01/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed
04/05/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
04/26/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
04/30/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
04/30/2010 Sent to the Governor
05/05/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Extend Dates Petroleum Storage Tank Fund
Sponsors: PRIOLA / SCHWARTZ
Section 1 of the bill changes the date by which a person is required to pay the environmental response surcharge or fee for odorized liquefied petroleum gas and fuel products from the twenty-fifth day to the twenty-sixth day of each calendar month. Current law provides that, beginning July 1, 2012, if the available Waller balance of the petroleum storage tank fund exceeds $8,000,000, no environmental response surcharge shall be imposed. Section 1 extends that date to July 1, 2018. Section 2 extends the date until which moneys in the petroleum storage tank fund may be used to pay for costs related to petroleum storage tank facility inspections and meter calibrations until July 1, 2018.
Status
01/22/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
02/02/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
02/05/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
02/08/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
02/09/2010 House Third Reading Passed
02/17/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation
03/11/2010 Senate Committee on Transportation Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/16/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed
03/17/2010 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily
03/18/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
03/29/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
03/30/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
03/31/2010 Sent to the Governor
04/12/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Pub Util Environmental Clean-up Costs
Sponsors: BALMER / BACON
This bill establishes when a gas and electric public utility (public utility) may recover from a customer certain costs to remediate environmental contamination incurred when providing service to that customer. "Gas and electric public utility" is defined as an investor-owned public utility that is the sole available provider of either gas or electric services to a Colorado customer in the area where the customer's property is located. For commercial customers requesting new gas or electric service or relocation of existing utility facilities:
* The customer may perform the necessary work in which case the public utility may neither charge the customer nor retain any moneys paid to the public utility by the customer for such work;
* The customer can identify a mutually acceptable alternative alignment on which to install or relocate the facilities, if the customer can demonstrate, through a phase I or phase II site assessment, that environmental contamination is not reasonably likely to be present on the alternative alignment; or
* The customer can reimburse the public utility for managing and disposing of the environmental contamination; except that, if the nature or extent of environmental contamination warrants, the public utility may require the customer to perform that work. If a dispute about the presence, nature, or extent of environmental contamination arises, the public utility must provide reasonable evidence of the contamination. The public utilities commission must adopt rules regarding procedures to hear such disputes on an expedited basis. The public utilities commission may establish a uniform fee paid by all of the public utility's customers to recover the actual costs of addressing environmental contamination of public rights-of-way and other locations for which recovery of such costs is not otherwise authorized.
Status
01/22/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
04/20/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Committee Vote - Tie Vote
05/12/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Postpone Indefinitely
Short Title: Suspend Indus Fuel Sales & Use Tax Exemp
Sponsors: POMMER / HEATH
For the period commencing March 1, 2010, and ending June 30, 2012, the bill suspends the exemption from the state sales and use taxes for the storage, use, or consumption of electricity, coal, coke, fuel oil, steam, nuclear fuel, or gas for use in processing, manufacturing, mining, refining, irrigation, building construction, telegraph, telephone, and radio communication, street and railroad transportation services, and all industrial uses and makes conforming amendments to prevent the suspension of the exemption from affecting county, municipal, and other local government or political subdivision sales and use taxes.
Status
01/22/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations
01/22/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations
01/22/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Finance + Appropriations
01/22/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Finance + Appropriations
01/22/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Finance
01/22/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Finance
01/27/2010 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Finance
01/27/2010 House Committee on Finance Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
01/29/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
01/29/2010 House Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over with Amendments to 02/01/2010
02/01/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
02/02/2010 House Third Reading Laid Over Daily
02/03/2010 House Third Reading Passed with Amendments
02/04/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Finance
02/04/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Finance + Appropriations
02/04/2010 Senate Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations
02/05/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
02/08/2010 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments
02/09/2010 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments
02/09/2010 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily
02/10/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
02/12/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Lay Over Daily
02/15/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
02/16/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
02/23/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
02/23/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
02/23/2010 Sent to the Governor
02/24/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Moratorium Coal-solar Power Plant Close
Sponsors: KING S. & ... / PENRY
The bill imposes a moratorium on the closing of any coal-solar power plants until July 1, 2012. "Coal-solar power plant" is defined as an investor-owned, coal-fired electric generation facility that integrates solar thermal technology.
Status
02/05/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
04/22/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
04/27/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
04/28/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over to 05/05/2010
05/05/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
05/11/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over to 06/09/2010
Short Title: Green Jobs CO Training Pilot Program
Sponsors: VIGIL / SCHWARTZ & ...
The bill creates in the office of the governor the green jobs Kagan, Kefalas, Levy, Massey, McFadyen, McKinley, Middleton, Miklosi, Pace, Peniston, Pommer, Riesberg, Ryden, Scanlan, Schafer S., Solano, Soper, Tyler Colorado training program, which is a 2-year pilot program. The pilot program will offer grants to applicants who train individuals for jobs in the wind, solar, renewable energy, and energy efficiency industries. The bill also creates the green jobs Colorado advisory council, which will review grant applications and award grants to applicants who meet the requirements specified in the bill. The bill specifies that the pilot program is to be funded by federal funds received by the department of labor and employment for the purposes of the pilot program and by funds received from the governor's energy office. Finally, the bill requires the executive director of the department of labor and employment to evaluate the green jobs Colorado training program and report his or her findings to the governor and the legislative committees of reference assigned in the bill.
Status
02/09/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Business Affairs and Labor
02/24/2010 House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/01/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/02/2010 House Third Reading Laid Over Daily
03/03/2010 House Third Reading Passed
03/09/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government and Energy
03/09/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government and Energy + Appropriations
03/23/2010 Senate Committee on Local Government and Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations
04/23/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
04/27/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
04/28/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
04/30/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
05/04/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
05/12/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/12/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/13/2010 Sent to the Governor
06/11/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Community Solar Gardens Util Elec Std
Sponsors: LEVY / WILLIAMS
Existing law directs the Colorado public utilities commission (PUC) to adopt rules implementing the renewable energy portfolio Peniston, Pommer, Primavera, Solano, Tyler standards (RPS) for electric utilities, under which increasing amounts of electricity must be generated from renewable sources. The current rules provide for standard rebates for the cost of installation and renewable energy credits (RECs) to promote customer-sited solar generation facilities. The bill directs the PUC to adopt new rules under which standard offers can apply to solar generation facilities that are beneficially owned by 10 or more customers at a shared location, called a "community solar garden". This will help customers participate in solar generation even though solar facilities on their own properties may not be feasible due to cost, the physical characteristics of their sites, their status as renters, or other factors. Section 1 of the bill amends an existing legislative declaration to state that it is in the public interest to allow renters and low-income utility customers to own interests in solar generation facilities, to make interests in solar generation facilities portable and transferable, and to leverage Colorado's solar generating capacity through economies of scale. Section 1 also:
* Defines a solar community garden as an on-site eligible solar electric generation facility with a nameplate rating of 2 megawatts or less and in which subscriptions are owned by 10 or more customers of a qualifying retail utility;
* Limits the size of a subscription to 120% of the average annual electric consumption of each subscriber at the premises to which the subscription is attributed;
* Allows the creation of a community solar garden owned by a subscriber organization, subject to rules adopted by the PUC by October 1, 2010;
* Specifies that, in their first 2 compliance plan years after the effective date of the bill, qualifying retail utilities must purchase the greater of 3 megawatts, or half their total purchases of electricity from community solar gardens, from gardens that are sized at 500 kilowatts or smaller;
* Exempts community solar gardens from the definition of a utility; and
* Specifies that section 1 does not apply to cooperative electric associations or municipally owned utilities. Section 2 makes conforming amendments to the existing RPS statute (a/k/a "Amendment 37").
Status
02/12/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
02/12/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
03/11/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/11/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/16/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over to 03/19/2010
03/19/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
03/22/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
03/23/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/25/2010 House Third Reading Passed
03/29/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government and Energy
04/13/2010 Senate Committee on Local Government and Energy Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
04/16/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/21/2010
04/22/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily
04/26/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
04/27/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
04/29/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
04/30/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
05/12/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/12/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/13/2010 Sent to the Governor
06/05/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Re-energize CO Renewable Elec For Parks
Sponsors: FISCHER & ... / SCHWARTZ & ...
Section 1 of the bill directs the governor's energy office or its designee to create an inventory and map of lands under the control of the department of natural resources or other state agencies that have potential to support the development of renewable resource generation projects to meet the electrical energy needs of the division of parks and outdoor recreation. Sections 2 and 3 authorize the executive director of the department of natural resources and the state land board, respectively, to include such lands among those suitable for acquisition or leasing for the purpose of allowing renewable energy generation projects to proceed. Section 1 also creates the re-energize Colorado program, under which the division of parks and outdoor recreation is encouraged to undertake renewable energy generation projects on state land to supply or offset all of its electrical energy needs by the year 2020. Finally, Section 1 authorizes a qualifying retail utility to waive some of the existing statutory limits placed on net metering and customer-sited generation projects for purposes of meeting this goal. Section 4 directs the public utilities commission to give the fullest possible consideration to projects under the re-energize Colorado program, especially where such projects offer good prospects for job creation and local economic growth, when considering the issuance of certificates of public convenience and necessity to utilities.
Status
02/16/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
02/16/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy + Appropriations
02/16/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy + Appropriations
04/06/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations
04/06/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations
04/16/2010 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
04/20/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
04/23/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
04/26/2010 House Third Reading Passed
04/29/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government and Energy
04/29/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government and Energy + Appropriations
05/04/2010 Senate Committee on Local Government and Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations
05/06/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
05/10/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
05/11/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
05/12/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
05/19/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/20/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/20/2010 Sent to the Governor
06/04/2010 Governor Action - Intends to Sign
06/08/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Incent Util Convert Coal To Natural Gas
Sponsors: SOLANO & ... / WHITEHEAD & ...
In order to meet anticipated federal "Clean Air Act" requirements to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants, section 1 of the bill Gerou, Hullinghorst, Kagan, Kerr A., Kerr J., King S., Levy, Liston, Looper, Massey, May, McFadyen, McNulty, Merrifield, Middleton, Miklosi, Peniston, Pommer, Primavera, Rice, Ryden, Scanlan, Schafer S., Stephens, Todd, Tyler, Vaad, Vigil requires all rate-regulated utilities that own or operate coal-fired electric generating units to submit to the public utilities commission (PUC) an emission reduction plan for emissions from those units covering the lesser of 900 megawatts or 50% of the utility's coal-fired electric generating units in Colorado. The plans have to give primary consideration to replacing or repowering coal-fired electric generators with natural gas and to also consider other low-emitting resources, including energy efficiency. The PUC will provide the department of public health and environment (department) an opportunity to comment on the utilities' plans. The department will determine whether certain new or repowered electric generating units proposed under the plans will emit more than 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour and whether the plans comply with applicable requirements of the federal and state clean air laws. The plans are to be implemented by December 31, 2017. In evaluating the plans, the PUC is to consider the following factors: The pollution reductions to be achieved; the increased use of existing natural gas-fired electric generating capacity; and the plan's effect on economic development, electricity reliability, cost and rate increases, compliance with renewable energy standards, and reliance on energy efficiency or other low-emitting resources. The PUC is to approve, deny, or modify the plans by December 15, 2010. The utilities' actions in complying with the plans are presumed to be prudent actions, the costs of which are recoverable in rates. The air quality control commission will consider incorporating the emissions reductions derived from the plans into the regional haze element of the state implementation plan. Early reductions of greenhouse gas emissions will count as voluntary for purposes of early reduction credits under federal law. Section 2 authorizes the PUC to approve interim rates taking effect no later than 60 days after a rate increase filing. Section 3 directs the PUC to require a utility to rebate rates if a final rate is lower than an interim rate.
Status
03/15/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
03/15/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy + Appropriations
03/16/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations
03/19/2010 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/19/2010 House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments
03/22/2010 House Third Reading Passed
03/23/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture and Natural Resources
03/23/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture and Natural Resources + Appropriations
03/25/2010 Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations
03/26/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/29/2010 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily
03/30/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/31/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
03/31/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
04/08/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
04/08/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
04/09/2010 Sent to the Governor
04/19/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Valuation Of New Hydroelec Facilities
Sponsors: SCHWARTZ / FISCHER
Water Resources Review Committee. The bill requires a new hydroelectric energy facility to be valued for the purpose of property taxation in the same manner in which new wind energy facilities and new solar energy facilities are valued for that purpose.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government and Energy
01/21/2010 Senate Committee on Local Government and Energy Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
01/26/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily
02/03/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
02/04/2010 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily
02/11/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments
02/12/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources
02/12/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources
03/03/2010 House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/03/2010 House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/12/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
03/15/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/16/2010 House Third Reading Passed
03/18/2010 Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
03/18/2010 Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
05/07/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/10/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/10/2010 Sent to the Governor
06/04/2010 Governor Action - Intends to Sign
06/08/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: PUC Electric Util Encourage Natural Gas
Sponsors: PENRY
The bill declares that there exists a perverse disincentive against investor-owned electric utilities' use of natural gas for fuel, as opposed to coal, and that this disincentive should be corrected by allowing all or part of a utility's long-term supply contract for Colorado natural gas to be accounted for as a capital cost, on which the utility is permitted to make a prescribed rate of return through customer charges. The bill directs the public utilities commission (PUC) to convene a rule-making proceeding to determine how much of the cost of these long-term natural gas supply contracts may be capitalized. It limits the amount capitalized to the equivalent of the supply contract costs approved for the Comanche III coal-fired plant, and requires the PUC to begin its rule-making by July 1, 2010.
Status
01/15/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture and Natural Resources
03/11/2010 Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources Postpone Indefinitely
Short Title: Transparency In Gas Elec Utility Bills
Sponsors: RENFROE / DELGROSSO
The bill declares that utility customers have a right to transparency in their utility bills, and therefore requires investor-owned gas and electric utilities to include in customer bills or bill inserts, at least 4 times per year, information about:
* For electric utilities, the types of fuels used to generate electricity, the percentage of the utility's electricity attributable to each, the load profile for each, and the total cost of generating electricity per kilowatt-hour for each fuel type;
* For gas and electric utilities, all ancillary costs associated with providing gas or electricity to the customer, including the costs of underground natural gas storage, natural gas pipeline expansions, and new electric transmission infrastructure. The bill specifies that the utilities' costs of revising the format of their current utility bills to provide the additional information may be recovered through rates.
Status
01/20/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government and Energy
02/02/2010 Senate Committee on Local Government and Energy Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed
02/09/2010 Senate Committee on Local Government and Energy Postpone Indefinitely
Short Title: Cross-boundary Energy Improvement Dist
Sponsors: SCHWARTZ / MIKLOSI
Current law prohibits local improvement districts for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy improvements (energy LIDs) to cross county boundaries. Sections 1, 2, and 5 of the bill allow such a district formed by a county to be created in 2 or more counties. Sections 1 and 7 also expand the definition of "renewable energy improvement" for energy LIDs formed by both counties and municipalities to include improvements located at a qualified community location rather than directly on a residential or commercial building. Sections 3 through 6 exempt energy LIDs formed by a county from a variety of inappropriate requirements that are otherwise generally applicable to local improvement districts.
Status
01/20/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government and Energy
01/28/2010 Senate Committee on Local Government and Energy Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
02/02/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily
02/12/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
02/15/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
02/17/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
03/23/2010 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/26/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over to 04/01/2010
04/01/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
04/05/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
04/07/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
04/09/2010 House Third Reading Laid Over Daily
04/12/2010 House Third Reading Passed with Amendments
04/15/2010 Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
04/30/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
04/30/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/03/2010 Sent to the Governor
05/05/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Elec Util RPS More Credit For Dist Gen
Sponsors: BROPHY / SONNENBERG & ...
Existing law creates a renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) under which certain electric utilities are required to generate an increasing percentage of their electricity from "eligible energy resources", including renewable sources and recycled energy, and allows those utilities to earn renewable energy credits (RECs) as a means of encouraging and measuring their progress in meeting the RPS. The bill creates a 2-to-1 multiplier for RECs earned as a result of installing distributed eligible electric generation facilities, defined as electric generation from an eligible energy source, not exceeding 30 megawatts, that interconnects to existing electric transmission or distribution facilities owned by a Colorado cooperative electric association or municipal utility.
Status
02/04/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans & Military Affairs
03/02/2010 Senate Committee on State, Veterans & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely
Short Title: Adjust Oil And Gas Well Regulation
Sponsors: HODGE / HULLINGHORST
House Bill 09-1303 imposed new requirements on oil and gas wells, including permitting by the state engineer and substitute water supply plans. Section 1 of the bill specifies that, except for coal bed methane wells, no well permit is required if the nontributary ground water being removed will not be beneficially used or beneficially used only for uses allowed under the "Oil and Gas Conservation Act". Sections 2 and 3 extend the well permitting and substitute water supply plan compliance deadlines for oil and gas wells, including coal bed methane wells, from March 31, 2010, to August 1, 2010.
Status
02/05/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture and Natural Resources
02/17/2010 Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
02/19/2010 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments
02/22/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
02/23/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources
03/02/2010 House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/05/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/08/2010 House Third Reading Passed
03/09/2010 Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
03/18/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
03/18/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
03/18/2010 Sent to the Governor
03/22/2010 Governor Action - Signed