CCIA's policy advocate Chris Votoupal on capital happenings
Dispatches from the Gold Dome
Colorado Cleantech Policy Update
Inside energy policy with CCIA's legislative team
April 4, 2019
We only have four weeks left in the First Regular Session of the 72nd General Assembly and there are over 350 bills still in play with many more yet to be introduced. Eighty eight bills have been signed into law and 84 have been postponed indefinitely. One thing is for sure, it is going to be busy at the State Capitol from here on out. Last week the Senate passed the annual budget bill (called the Long Bill) and this week is the House’s turn. Then a conference committee will most likely have to reconcile the differences between the two chambers.
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 is waiting to be assigned to a Senate Committee. 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. Passed the House and is waiting to be heard in the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee. CCIA Position – Support
HB 19-1159– Modify Innovative Motor Vehicle Income Tax Credits – Extends the refundable and optional point-of-sale tax credit for light, medium and heavy duty electric vehicles for 4 additional years till 2016. Passed the House Finance Committee and is waiting to be heard in House Appropriations. CCIA Position – Support
HB 19-1165 – On site Wind Turbine Manufacturing Property Tax Exemption – Provides a ten-year personal property tax exemption for manufacturing equipment used to assemble a wind turbine on site. Postponed Indefinitely in the House Energy & Environment Committee. CCIA Position – Support
HB 19-1188 – Greenhouse Gas Pollution Impact in Fiscal Notes –Would require all bills starting in 2020 to have listed on any fiscal note whether enactment of the legislation would have a positive or negative impact on greenhouse gases in the first ten years. Passed the House Energy & Environment Committee and is waiting to be heard in House Appropriations. CCIA Position – Support
HB 19-1198– Electric Vehicle Grant Fund –Allows the current EV infrastructure grant fund to more efficiently receive and administer the funds on an annual basis and would allow the grants to also apply to operational costs of a charging station. This provision could be very beneficial to remote charging stations that may not receive much traffic initially. Passed the House and the Senate and is headed to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. CCIA Position – Support
HB 19-1199– Colorado Clean Pass Act – Revamps and expands the current program allowing a small number of electric vehicles to use HOV lanes for free. This bill also has a provision for a 50% discount for certain toll lanes with purchase of a $35 decal. New electric and hydrogen vehicles could qualify for the program for the first three years of registration.Waiting for a hearing in the House Finance Committee. CCIA Position – Support
HB 19-1221 – Regulation of Electric Scooters – Would regulate electric scooters the same as electric bicycles allowing them on roadways. Passed the House and is waiting for a hearing in the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee. CCIA Position - Monitor
HB 19-1231- New Appliance Energy & Water Efficiency Standards - Updates efficiency standards for new equipment sold by requiring certain appliances, plumbing fixtures, and other products sold for residential or commercial use to meet energy efficiency and water efficiency standards.CCIA Position - Monitor
HB 19-1260 – Building Energy Codes - Requires local jurisdictions to adopt one of the 3 most recent versions of the international energy conservation code at a minimum, upon updating any other building code, and encourages local jurisdictions to update the Colorado Energy Office on any changes to the jurisdictions' building and energy codes. Waiting for a hearing in the House Energy & Environment Committee. CCIA Position - Support
HB 19-1261 – Climate Action Plan to Reduce Pollution – Establishes statewide goals to reduce GHG emissions by at least 26% by 2025, 50% by 2030, and 90% by 2050 with 2005 as the baseline year. The Air Quality Control Commission is required to implement policies and promulgate rules to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, analyze the costs of compliance, opportunities to incentivize clean energy in transitioning communities, and the potential to enhance the resilience of Colorado's communities and natural resources to climate impacts. Scheduled for a hearing in the House Energy & Environment Committee on Friday, April 5. CCIA Position - Support
HB 19-1272 – Commercial PACE for Housing Authorities – Allows a city, county or multi-jurisdictional housing authority to opt-in to a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) program. Currently these entities are exempted from paying a special assessment. Scheduled for a hearing in the House Energy and Environment Committee on April 8. CCIA Position – Support
HB 19-1298 – EV Charging Station Parking Regulations – Establishes criteria for proper and improper use of an EV charging parking space and sets a fine amount for violations. Waiting for a hearing in the House Energy & Environment Committee. 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). Postponed Indefinitely in the Senate Health & 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. Passed Senate Finance and is waiting for Senate Appropriations Committee action. 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. Passed the Senate and is waiting for a final vote in the House Transportation & Local Government 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 Senate Appropriations. CCIA Position – Support
SB 19-181 – Oil & Gas Local Control Regulations – A broad reaching and complicated bill allowing for more local control to regulate oil and gas activities, changes the make up and mission of the Colorado Oil & gas Conservation Commission, changes forced pooling statutes and tightens methane regulations. Passed the House and the Senate and is waiting for the Governor’s signature. CCIA Position - Monitor
SB 19-207 – FY 2019/20 Long Bill – Annual state budget bill. Passed the Senate and is waiting for House floor action this week. Next step is most likely a Conference Committee to reconcile the two chamber’s amendments. CCIA Position - Monitor
