Co-sponsors, Representatives Barron and Flanell, introduced and explained House Bill 26-1129 Gas Utility Service. The bill requires a gas distribution utility to exempt carbon dioxide emissions from gas usage by residential customers as part a clean heat plan, among other provisions.

The bill sponsors responded to questions on the bill.

Questions continued from the committee.

Mr. Jackson Piggott, representing Colorado Oil and Gas Association, testified in support of the bill. Tim Griesmer, representing American Petroleum Institute Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Andrew Hamrick, representing Colorado Apartment Association, testified in support of the bill. Ken Fogle, representing Atmos Energy, testified in support of the bill. Maria Garduna, representing Black Hills Energy, testified to amend the bill.

The committee asked the panel of witnesses questions.

Mr. Will Toor, representing Colorado Energy Office, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Ed Carley, representing Western Resource Advocates, testified in opposition to the bill. Courtney Fieldman, representing Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, testified in opposition to the bill. Paul Sherman, representing Conservation Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.

The committee asked the panel of witnesses questions.

Sara Blackhurst, representing Action Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Sarah Montalbano, representing Independence Institute, testified in support of the bill. Corey Blair, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Sarah Norton-Kohn, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

The committee asked the panel of witnesses questions.

Jim Dennison, representing Sierra Club, testified in opposition to the bill. Patricia Garcia-Nelson, representing GreenLatinos, testified in opposition to the bill. Jessica Burley, representing Colorado Communities for Climate Action, testified in opposition to the bill. Alejandra Mejia Cunningham, representing Natural Resources Defense Council, testified in opposition to the bill.

Additional written testimony is included as Attachment A.

The committee asked questions regarding amendment L.002.

The sponsors gave closing comments to the committee. The committee gave closing comments.