Under the Dome
Colorado Cleantech Policy Update
Inside energy policy with CCIA's legislative team
 
January 25, 2019
We are almost through the third week of the First Regular Session of the 72 nd  General Assembly. There are many new faces at the capitol and everyone has just about figured out where everyone’s new offices are located. Already there are several bills of interest to the cleantech business community that have been introduced and many more will be coming down the pike. We anticipate several more bills dealing with climate change, electric vehicles and more to be introduced in the future.


HB 19-1003 - Community Solar Gardens Modernization Act – Increases the cap on the project size for community solar gardens from 2 to 5 megawatts. The bill also removes the contiguous counties provision and replaces it with a service territory requirement in addition to extending the personal property tax exemption for projects for five years. Passed the House Energy & Environment Committee and is now sitting in Appropriations.  CCIA Position - Support

HB 19-1037 Colorado Energy Impact Assistance Act - Authorizes the issuance of low-cost ratepayer-backed bonds and creates the Colorado energy impact assistance authority to mitigate the impacts of power plant retirements on workers and communities. The goal of the bill is to provide another option to recover the costs of closing down a fossil fuel plant while providing economic assistance to the impacted community. Scheduled for a hearing in the House Energy & Environment Committee on Feb. 4th. CCIA Position – Support

SB 19-053 - California Motor Vehicle Emission Standards – Would prevent Colorado from enacting transportation fuel economy standards stricter than current EPA standards (such as a Low Emission Vehicle & Zero Emission Vehicle Standard). Waiting for a hearing in the Senate Heath & Human Services Committee.  CCIA Position – Oppose

SB 19-067 - Rural Development Grant Program Creation – Creates a grant program under the Office of Economic Development & International Trade to help small rural based companies in the start-up and early stage level who are in the “prototype” phase of development. The program would be capped at $150k per company that has raised less than $500K in private capital. Scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee on Jan. 29.  CCIA Position - Support

SB 19-077 - Electric Motor Vehicles Public Utility Services – Allows Investor Owned Utilities to invest in electric vehicle infrastructure and outlines certain criteria for the PUC to consider if a program is presented including rebates, private sector capital and customer choice. Waiting for a hearing in the Senate Business Labor & Technology Committee.  CCIA Position - Support

SB 19-096 - Collect Long-term Climate Change Data – Requires the Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment to conduct comprehensive annual data collection for statewide greenhouse gas emissions and to make that report public starting in 2020. Waiting for a hearing in the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee.  CCIA Position – Support
Sincerely,

Christopher Votoupal
Government Affairs
 
(m)720.254.4592