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First Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For HB23-1069

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Date Feb 16, 2023       Location LSB A

HB23-1069 - Amended, referred to House Appropriations
01:49:32 PM  
The sponsor of the bill, Representative McCormick, gave an overview of House Bill 23-1069 concerning studying biochar in the plugging of oil and gas wells. The bill will create the Biochar in Plugging Oil and Gas Well Plugging Working Advisory Group to make recommendations for the development of a pilot program.
01:51:30 PM  
Representative McCormick introduced and gave an overview of the strike-below amendment L.001 (Attachment A).
01:55:09 PM  
Ms. Janis Hallowell, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Carolyn Aspelin, representing Colorado State Forest Service, testified in support of the bill. Trevor Slansky, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jan Rose, representing Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Ramesh Bhatt, representing Sierra Club, testified in support of the bill.
02:07:40 PM  
The committee asked the panel how to make biochar, pyrolysis through an electric source, the role of the State Forest Service in supplying material, what materials can be used, contaminants, and other uses for biochar.
02:19:24 PM  
Mike Foote, representing 350 Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Cindy Copeland, representing Boulder County, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Richard Andrews, representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Director Julie Murphy, representing Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC), was available to answer committee questions.
02:27:30 PM  
The committee asked several question, including COGCC's oversight in plugging wells; the amount of unplugged wells; how long the cement used to plug wells lasts; how long wells are monitored after being plugged; if biochar will last longer in plugging wells; and how the COGCC will receive notice when plugged wells are not properly plugged.

Additional written testimony is included as Attachments B.1 and B.2
02:38:43 PM  
Representative McCormick spoke more about amendment L.001 (Attachment A) and introduced and gave an overview of amendment L.002 (Attachment C), which amends L.001 (Attachment A).
02:41:11 PM  
The committee gave comments about the amendments.

02:42:06 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment C).
Moved Weissman
Seconded Willford
DeGraaf Excused
Dickson
Evans
Froelich
Valdez
Velasco
Vigil
Weissman
Winter T.
Willford
Kipp
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection

02:43:05 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A).
Moved Weissman
Seconded Willford
DeGraaf Excused
Dickson Yes
Evans No
Froelich Yes
Valdez Yes
Velasco Yes
Vigil Yes
Weissman Yes
Winter T. No
Willford Yes
Kipp Yes
YES: 8   NO: 2   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
02:43:07 PM  
The sponsor gave closing comments on the bill. The committee gave closing comments on the bill.

02:47:17 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 23-1069, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Valdez
Seconded Willford
DeGraaf Excused
Dickson Yes
Evans No
Froelich Yes
Valdez Yes
Velasco Yes
Vigil Yes
Weissman Yes
Winter T. No
Willford Yes
Kipp Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 2   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS