Skip to main content
Colorado General AssemblyToggle Main Menu
Agency NameToggle Agency Menu

D7CADEF4840A9C578725851B007C1A46 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB20-168

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY
Date Feb 27, 2020      
Location SCR 352



SB20-168 - Amended, referred to Senate Finance


03:35:33 PM  
Senators Hansen and Pettersen, co-prime
bill sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 20-168, concerning tax policy that
promotes environmental sustainability.  The bill modifies the community
solar garden property tax, extending the exemption for five additional
property tax years.  The exemption will also apply to a garden that
is a solar energy facility.  Local governments will receive assistance
for the extension of this exemption through the sustainable energy tax
policy fund.  The bill inidicates that TABOR refund mechanisms only
apply after refunds are made to counties for the reimbursements for senior
homestead exemptions.  
The bill also changes
the way that solar energy facilities are valued, as well as the the coal
severance tax, effective July 2, 2021.  Additional taxes collected
from changes to the coal severance tax will be credited to the Sustainable
Energy Policy Fund.
03:41:56 PM  
Mike Kruger, representing the Colorado
Solar and Storage Association, testified in support of the bill.  Daniel
Merkle, representing Pivot Energy, testified in support of the bill.  Kevin
Cray, representing the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA), testified
in support of the bill.  Michael Krueger, representing the Colorado
Department of Regulatory Agencies, came to the table to answer questions
from the committee.  Brett Moore, representing EDP Renewables and
the Interwest Energy Alliance, testified in support of the bill.

03:53:35 PM  
Jerald Bouwens, representing the coal industry,
testified in opposition to the bill.  Ryan Vinzke, representing himself,
testified in opposition to the bill.  Srdjan Brstina, representing
himself, testified in opposition to the bill.  William Davis, representing
himself, testified in opposition to the bill.
04:00:02 PM  
The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.
04:02:22 PM  
The following witness panel testified remotely
from Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs.  Doug Monger,
representing Routt County, testified in opposition to the bill.  Edwin
Brady, representing Peabody Energy, testified in opposition to the bill.
 Jayme Sobieralski, representing Peabody Energy and Twentymile Mine,
testified in opposition to the bill.  Leslie How, representing Peabody
Energy, testified in opposition to the bill.
04:17:23 PM  
Gina Lotito, representing GCC Energy, testified
in opposition to the bill.  Mike Zimmerman, representing the coal
industry, testified in opposition to the bill.  Clay Copeland, representing
the coal industry, testified in opposition to the bill.  Jeremy Robertson,
representing the coal industry, testified in opposition to the bill.
04:26:30 PM  
Weston Norris, representing the West Elk
Mine, testified remotely from Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction,
in opposition to the bill.
04:29:49 PM  
Pat Sollars, representing the coal industry,
testified in opposition to the bill.  Candice Trujillo, representing
the coal industry, testified in opposition to the bill.  Levi Muhome,
representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Jenna
Spencer, representing the coal industry, testified in opposition to the
bill.
04:39:04 PM  
The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.
04:39:32 PM  
William LoPro, representing Blue Mountain
Energy, testified in opposition to the bill.  Jeff Dubbert, representing
the coal industry, testified in opposition to the bill.  Bonnie Petersen,
representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified
in opposition to the bill.  Brandy DeLange, representing the Colorado
Municipal League, testified in opposition to the bill unless amended.

04:49:57 PM  
Stan Dempsey, representing the Colorado
Mining Association (CMA), testified in opposition to the bill.  Bill
Skewes, representing the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition
to the bill.  Dianna Orf, representing CMA, testified in opposition
to the bill.  Robert VanGorder, representing Wagner Equipment Company,
testified in opposition to the bill.
05:00:29 PM  
The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.
05:07:50 PM  
Gini Pingenot, representing Colorado Counties,
Inc., testified about the bill.  Sophia San Miguel, representing herself,
testified in support of the bill.
05:08:56 PM  
Patrick Boyle, representing the Colorado
Competitive Council, testified in opposition to the bill.  David Long,
representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Jarrett
Caddy, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Kevin
Copeland, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.

05:25:13 PM  
Senator Hansen distributed and described
Amendments L.001 and L.002 (Attachments F and G).


05:26:54 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment F).
Moved Pettersen
Seconded
Foote
Hisey
Scott
Pettersen
Winter
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


05:27:17 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment G).
Moved Pettersen
Seconded
Foote
Hisey
Scott
Pettersen
Winter
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
05:27:38 PM  
The bill sponsors made closing remarks.
05:31:52 PM  
Committee members made closing remarks.


05:41:55 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 20-168, as amended, to the Committee on Finance.
Moved Pettersen
Seconded
Foote Yes
Hisey No
Scott No
Pettersen Yes
Winter Yes
Final YES: 3   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS






The 2024 Statewide Ballot Information Booklet is now online