Current Colorado General Assembly Climate and Energy Bills
1. HB19-1261: Climate Action Plan to Reduce Pollution
a. What it does: The bill references the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C, sets CO GHG emissions goals reductions of 26% x 2025, 50% x 2030, and 90% x 2050, all compared to 2005 levels, and puts/retains the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) in charge of promulgating rules and regulations for meeting the goals. It requires the AQCC to solicit input from a variety of sources, including workers and communities that are “currently economically dependent on industries with high levels of GHG emissions.”
b. CCLC position: The CCLC has proposed four amendments to this bill. The fourth – concerning the conversion to clean electricity resources – has largely been addressed. However, we cannot support the bill unless the2030 goal is changed to 63%. We are still waiting for a legislator to express willingness to bring our amendments forward. I’ve asked all of our “Legislative Allies”, and none have stepped up to do this as of yet.
c. Current status: This bill has been approved by the House and the two Senate Committees to which it was assigned.
d. Next step: The Senate’s second reading of the bill (floor work) will take place on Monday, 4/29
2. SB19-096: Collect Long-term Climate Change Data
a. What it does: This bill requires the State to provide BI-annual GHG inventories, which is less good than the original version of the bill. It codifies the goal of 26% GHG emissions reductions by 2025 compared to 2005 levels established by Governor Hickenlooper via Executive Order D2017-015. It also calls on the Air Quality Control Commission to develop rules for achieving Colorado’s existing climate and clean energy goals by 7/1/2020, without mentioning any sort of broader climate task force to develop policies for future (2020) legislative action.
b. CCLC position: The CCLC supports the goals of this bill, and has proposed three strengthening amendments. We are waiting for a legislator to express willingness to bring them forward.
c. Current status: This bill has passed the Senate and the House State, Veterans’, and Military Affairs Committee, which approved a WEAKENING amendment. Now emissions are only required to be tracked every TWO years, not annually.
d. Next step: The House Appropriations Committee will hear this bill on at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, 4/29 in LSB A.
3. HB19-1313: Electric Utility Plans To Further Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions
a. What it does: This bill would codify the Xcel’s Colorado Energy Plan goals of 80% CO2 emissions by 2030 and 100% CO2 emissions by 2050.
b. CCLC position: The CCLC has not taken a position on this bill. CCLC member organization CRES opposes this bill in its current form, however.
c. Current status: The House passed this bill on third reading on Saturday, 4/27. MANY amendments were passed during the second third readings, and I’d be lying if I said I have a firm handle on what they all do. It does appear that Amendment L.10 incorporates 18 of 48 pages from HB19-1037 into this bill. HB19-1037 has been postponed indefinitely (see below).
d. Next step: This bill has not yet been assigned to a Senate Committee.
4. HB19-1314: Just Transition From Coal-based Electrical Energy Economy
a. What it does: This bill would assist workers and most impacted communities in a just transition from a coal-based electrical energy economy, starting in 2023 (moved forward from 2025 by amendment, but only if sufficient funds are available in the General Fund).
b. CCLC position: The CCLC has not taken a position on this bill. CCLC member organization 350 Colorado called for the timeline to be moved forward, along with several other amendments. Not sure if 2023 satisfies 350 Colorado or not – Micah, Gina, Deb, Julia – what do you say?
c. Current status: The House passed this bill on third reading on 4/23/19. It has been heard by two Senate Committees, which passed the bill with amendments.
d. Next step: The second reading of this bill by the Senate Committee of the Whole has not yet been scheduled.
5. SB19-236: Sunset Public Utilities Commission
a. What it does: This bill would re-authorize the Public Utilities Commission and implements sunset report recommendations. Within this bill is an important provision to put a social cost on carbon when the PUC assesses resource choices as a way to hold utilities accountable.
b. CCLC position: The CCLC has not taken a position on this bill.
c. Current status: This bill passed the Senate on third reading on 4/24. It has been amended multiple times, although the amendments do not APPEAR to be very significant to me.
d. Next step: The House State, Veterans’, and Military Affairs Committee will hear this bill on Tuesday, April 30th at 1:30 p.m. in LSB A.
6. HB19-1037: Colorado Energy Impact Assistance (Securitization/Ratepayer Obligation Charge Bonds)
a. What it does: This bill authorizes any electric utility to apply to the public utilities commission for a financing order that will authorize the utility to issue low-cost Colorado energy impact assistance bonds to lower the cost to electric utility customers when the retirement of an electric generating facility occurs.
b. CCLC position: The CCLC does not support this bill in its current form.
c. Current status: The Senate Transportation and Energy Committee voted to postpone this bill indefinitely on Thursday, 4/18. So – it’s dead. But – it appears that 18 of 48 pages of it have been incorporated into HB19-1313 (see above).
7. HB19-1298: Electric Motor Vehicle Charging Station Parking
a. What it does: This bill would prohibit people from using a parking space designated for EV charging for anything other than charging their electric vehicle.
b. CCLC position: The CCLC has not taken a position on this bill.
c. Current status: The House passed this bill on 4/18 and sent it on to the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee, which approved the bill on 4/24.
d. Next step: Second reading (floor work) will take place in the Senate on Monday, 4/29.
8. SB19-077: Electric Motor Vehicles Public Utility Services
a. What it does: This bill would authorize public utilities to provide charging ports for motor vehicles as a service regulated by the PUC.
b. CCLC position: The CCLC has not taken a position on this bill.
c. Current status: The House approved this bill on third reading on Thursday, 4/18. However, the House made amendments to this bill in committee, so the Senate needed to reconsider. The Senate failed to approved the House amendments on 4/26, and requested a conference committee.
d. Next step: House floor work is scheduled for Wednesday, 5/1. Hmm – will this take place after the conference committee meets?
9. HB19-1231: New Appliance Energy And Water Efficiency Standards
a. What it does: This bill would establish or update energy and water efficiency standards for a long list of consumer and commercial appliances and other products
b. CCLC position: The CCLC has not taken a position on this bill.
c. Current status: The House approved this bill on third reading on Thursday, 4/4. The bill was referred to the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee, which approved the bill with a minor amendment on 4/23.
d. Next step: The Senate will consider this bill on second reading (floor work) on Monday, 4/29.
That’s the end of my report. Remember, anyone can search for legislation by keyword or bill number here: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills. The more people who keep their eyes on these bills, the better.
Report Created By Kevin Cross
Spokesperson, Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate
Ph. 970-484-3141 https://colivableclimate.org