Thermal Energy

Section 2 of the bill authorizes the Colorado energy office to award grants for retrofitting existing buildings for installation of a geothermal system for heating and cooling under the single-structure geothermal grant that the office administers and for generating geothermal energy through direct air capture technology under the geothermal electricity generation grant that the office administers.Section 3 establishes labor standards for thermal energy public projects that a state agency or a state institution of higher education procures.

In Colorado, a gas distribution utility providing gas service to more than 90,000 retail customers is required to file with the public utilities commission (commission) a clean heat plan, which is a plan demonstrating how the utility will use clean heat resources to meet clean heat targets for reducing carbon dioxide and methane emissions. Section 4 adds thermal energy as an eligible clean heat resource for helping to meet clean heat targets.Section 5 authorizes a gas utility that is regulated by the commission to apply for review and approval of the use of thermal energy networks in the gas utility's service area. A gas utility that is regulated by the commission and that serves more than 500,000 customers is required to propose pilot thermal energy network projects for the commission's review and approval. The commission shall initiate a proceeding on or before January 1, 2025, to determine if rule-making or legislative changes are needed to facilitate the development of thermal energy in the state.Section 6 repeals the "Geothermal Heat Suppliers Act", which act requires geothermal heat suppliers to obtain operating permits from the commission.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)