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H_ENE_2021A 05/27/2021 01:37:39 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Date 05/27/2021
Attendance
Bernett X
Froelich X
Jackson *
Pico *
Sirota X
Soper X
Titone *
Van Beber *
Weissman X
Will X
Woog X
Hooton X
Valdez A. X
Time 01:37:39 PM to 08:40:20 PM
Place LSB A
This Meeting was called to order by Valdez A.
This Report was prepared by Andrea Denka
Hearing Items Action Taken
HB21-1324 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
SB21-180 Referred to House Appropriations
SB21-246 Referred to House Appropriations
SB21-261 Amended, referred to House Appropriations
SB21-249 Referred to House Finance
SB21-245 Referred to House Appropriations

HB21-1324 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:38:07 PM  
The committee came
to order.  Representatives Roberts and Pelton, co-prime bill sponsors,
introduced House Bill 21-1324.  The bill
allows
investor-owned electric utilities to submit proposals to the Public Utilities
Commission for innovative energy technology projects and partnerships.
01:46:22 PM  
The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
01:48:33 PM  
Commissioner Tim
Redmond, representing self, testified in support of the bill.  Mathew
Mendisco, representing Town of Hayden, testified in support of the bill.
  Former Moffat County Commissioner Ron Beck, representing self, testified
in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions
from the committee.
02:02:54 PM  
Jacob Smith, representing
Colorado Communities for Climate Action, testified to amend the bill.  Mr.
Smith responded to questions from the committee.
02:11:27 PM  
Matthew Gerhart,
representing Sierra Club, testified to amend the bill.  Greg Brophy,
representing Onward Energy & The Western Way, testified in support
of the bill.  Mark Detsky, representing Colorado Independent Energy
Association, testified in a neutral position on the bill.
02:20:46 PM  
Suzann Kuhns, representing Ibew 111, testified in support of the bill.
02:22:20 PM  
Sara Blackhurst, representing Action 22, testified in support of the bill. Kathryn Valdez, representing Xcel Energy, testified in support of the bill. Matt Larson, representing Xcel Energy, was available to answer committee questions. Ms. Blackhurst responded to questions from the committee.
03:01:26 PM  
The bill sponsors
discussed and distributed amendments L.002, L.004, and L.005 (Attachments
A, B, and C).


03:05:59 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment B).
Moved Weissman
Seconded Soper
Bernett
Froelich
Jackson
Pico
Sirota
Soper
Titone
Van Beber
Weissman
Will
Woog
Hooton
Valdez A.
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


03:08:21 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment A).
Moved Weissman
Seconded Sirota
Bernett Yes
Froelich Yes
Jackson Yes
Pico No
Sirota Yes
Soper No
Titone Yes
Van Beber No
Weissman Yes
Will No
Woog No
Hooton Yes
Valdez A. Yes
YES: 8   NO: 5   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


03:11:04 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment C).
Moved Weissman
Seconded Sirota
Bernett
Froelich
Jackson
Pico
Sirota
Soper
Titone
Van Beber
Weissman
Will
Woog
Hooton
Valdez A.
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
03:11:05 PM  
The bill sponsors made concluding comments on the bill. Committee members made concluding comments on the bill.


03:22:03 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 21-1324, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Weissman
Seconded Van Beber
Bernett Yes
Froelich Yes
Jackson Yes
Pico Yes
Sirota Yes
Soper Yes
Titone Yes
Van Beber Yes
Weissman Yes
Will Yes
Woog Yes
Hooton No
Valdez A. No
Final YES: 11   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
03:22:03 PM  
The committee took
a brief recess.



SB21-180 - Referred to House Appropriations


03:22:21 PM  
The committee came
back to order.
03:27:58 PM  
Representatives Bird
and Titone, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 21-180 to the
committee.  
The bill creates
the Stakeholder Advisory Committee on Recycling in the Department of Public
Health and Environment.
The
bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
04:05:36 PM  
Wolfgang Kray, representing
CDPHE, was available to answer committee questions.
04:18:05 PM  
Omar Terrie, representing American Chemistry Council, testified in support of the bill. Rachel Setzke, representing Eco-Cycle, testified in support of the bill.
04:23:19 PM  
The bill sponsors gave concluding comments. Committee members made concluding comments.


04:37:53 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-180 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Titone
Seconded Soper
Bernett Yes
Froelich Yes
Jackson Yes
Pico Yes
Sirota No
Soper Yes
Titone Yes
Van Beber No
Weissman Yes
Will Yes
Woog Yes
Hooton Yes
Valdez A. No
Final YES: 10   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
04:38:20 PM  
The committee took
a brief recess.



SB21-246 - Referred to House Appropriations


04:47:48 PM  
The committee came
to order.  Representatives A. Valdez and Froelich, co-prime bill sponsors,
presented Senate Bill 21-246 to the committee.  The bill
requires
investor-owned electric utilities to file beneficial electrification plans
with the Public Utilities Commission.  
The
bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
05:01:35 PM  
Dianna Orf, representing Associated governments of NW Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Jennifer Altieri, representing Atmos Energy Corporation, testified to amend the bill.
05:07:00 PM  
Jack Iley, representing
Xcel Energy, testified to amendmend the bill.
05:10:17 PM  
Keith Hay, representing
Colorado Energy Office, testified in support of the bill.  Mr. Hay
responded to questions from the committee.
05:13:59 PM  
Dr. Howard Geller,
representing Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP), testified in
support of the bill.
05:16:57 PM  
Chris Markuson, representing BlueGreen Alliance, testified in support of the bill.
05:18:57 PM  
Marna Ares, representing Colorado Sierra Club, testified in support of the bill.
05:22:21 PM  
Jan Rose, representing CCLC, testified in support of the bill.
05:23:49 PM  
Ron Bennett, representing 350 Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
05:26:39 PM  
Andrew Bennett, representing Energy Outreach Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
05:29:38 PM  
Sabrina Pacha, representing Healthy Air and Water Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
05:32:00 PM  
Patricia Rothwell, representing EEBC (Energy Efficiency Business Coalition), testified in support of the bill.
05:34:50 PM  
Sunni Benoit, representing self, testified in support of the bill.
05:43:28 PM  
Representative Pico
discussed and distributed amendment L.010 (Attachment D).



05:44:27 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.010 (Attachment D).
Moved Pico
Seconded Woog
Bernett No
Froelich No
Jackson No
Pico Yes
Sirota No
Soper Excused
Titone No
Van Beber Yes
Weissman No
Will Yes
Woog Yes
Valdez A. No
Hooton No
YES: 4   NO: 8   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL
05:44:31 PM  
The bill sponsors made concluding comments on the bill.


05:48:38 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-246 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Valdez A.
Seconded Froelich
Bernett Yes
Froelich Yes
Jackson Yes
Pico No
Sirota Yes
Soper No
Titone Yes
Van Beber No
Weissman Yes
Will No
Woog No
Valdez A. Yes
Hooton Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 5   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB21-261 - Amended, referred to House Appropriations


05:48:54 PM  
Representatives A.Valdez
and Amabile, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 21-261 to the
committee.  The bill
makes various
changes to the renewable energy standards and the regulation of distributed
generation
.
 The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
06:12:53 PM  
Suzann Kuhns, representing
Ibew 111, testified in opposition to the bill.  Mr. Devin Moeller,
representing Black Hills Energy, testified to amend the bill.
06:18:35 PM  
Mike Kruger, representing
Colorado Solar and Storage Association, testified in support of the bill.
 Meghan MacKillop, representing Colorado Municipal League, testified
in support of the bill.
06:22:59 PM  
Jan Rose, representing CCLC, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Rose responded to questions from the committee.
06:27:10 PM  
Leslie Glustrom,
representing Clean Energy Action, testified in support of the bill.  Thad
Kurowski, representing Tesla, testified in support of the bill.
06:32:05 PM  
Andrew Bennett, representing Energy Outreach Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
06:34:14 PM  
Chief Policy Advisor Carl Castillo, representing City of Boulder, testified in support of the bill.
06:36:57 PM  
Sunni Benoit, representing self, testified in support of the bill.
06:39:53 PM  
Matthew Larson, representing Xcel Energy, testified to amend the bill. Mr. Larson responded to questions from the committee.
06:42:50 PM  
Jacob Smith, representing
Colorado Communities for Climate Action, testified in support of the bill.
 Janna Six, representing Solar United Neighbors, testified in support
of the bill.
06:48:11 PM  
The bill sponsors
discussed and distributed amendment L.025 (Attachment E).


06:51:46 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.025 (Attachment E).
Moved Valdez A.
Seconded Hooton
Bernett
Froelich
Jackson
Pico
Sirota
Soper
Titone
Van Beber
Weissman
Will
Woog
Valdez A.
Hooton
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
06:52:12 PM  
Representative Pico
discussed and distributed amendment L.021 (Attachment F).


06:57:13 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.021 (Attachment F).
Moved Pico
Seconded Soper
Bernett No
Froelich No
Jackson No
Pico Yes
Sirota No
Soper Yes
Titone No
Van Beber Yes
Weissman No
Will Yes
Woog Yes
Valdez A. No
Hooton No
YES: 5   NO: 8   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL
06:57:14 PM  
The bill sponsors provided concluding comments on the bill. Committee member made concluding comments on the bill.


07:01:25 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-261, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Valdez A.
Seconded Bernett
Bernett Yes
Froelich Yes
Jackson Yes
Pico No
Sirota Yes
Soper No
Titone Yes
Van Beber No
Weissman Yes
Will No
Woog No
Valdez A. Yes
Hooton Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 5   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
07:02:15 PM  
The committee took
a brief recess.



SB21-249 - Referred to House Finance


07:01:36 PM  
The committee came
back to order.  Representatives Tipper and Will, co-prime sponsors,
presented Senate Bill 21-249 to the committee.  The bill
creates
the Keep Colorado Wild Pass, which will be paid for by a fee assessed when
a motor vehicle is registered unless the vehicle owner opts out.  


The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
07:26:44 PM  
Dan Gibbs, representing Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. Heather Dugan, representing Colorado Parks and Wildlife, testified in support of the bill.
07:34:20 PM  
Doug Vilsack, representing Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. Jeff Sparhawk, representing Colorado Search and Rescue Association, testified in support of the bill.
07:42:05 PM  
Dr. Ethan Greene, representing Colorado Avalanche Information Center, testified in support of the bill. Aaron Citron, representing The Nature Conservancy, testified in support of the bill.
07:46:58 PM  
Commissioner Richard
Cimino, representing Counties and Commissioners Acting Together, testified
in support of the bill.  Beau Kiklis, representing Conservation Colorado,
testified in support of the bill.
07:52:51 PM  
SaraJo Light, representing Colorado Sierra Club, testified in support of the bill.


08:02:28 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-249 to the Committee on Finance.
Moved Will
Seconded Weissman
Bernett Yes
Froelich Yes
Jackson Yes
Pico Yes
Sirota Yes
Soper Yes
Titone Yes
Van Beber Yes
Weissman Yes
Will Yes
Woog Yes
Valdez A. Yes
Hooton Yes
Final YES: 13   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB21-245 - Referred to House Appropriations


08:02:34 PM  
Representative Will
and McCluskie, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 21-245 to
the committee.  The bill
requires
the Department of Natural Resources to conduct a study of the challenges
of backcountry search and rescue and perform statewide outreach and training
for volunteers.
08:12:31 PM  
Dan Gibbs, representing Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. Heather Dugan, representing Colorado Parks and Wildlife, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Dugan responded to questions from the committee.
08:17:16 PM  
Jeff Sparhawk, representing Colorado Search and Rescue Association, testified in support of the bill. Brian Chambliss, representing self, testified in support of the bill.
08:22:44 PM  
Randy Felix, representing self, testified in support of the bill. David Mackey, representing self, testified in support of the bill.
08:31:02 PM  
The bill sponsors made concluding comments on the bill.
08:33:39 PM  
Committee members made concluding comments on the bill.


08:39:56 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-245 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Will
Seconded Hooton
Bernett Yes
Froelich Yes
Jackson Excused
Pico Yes
Sirota Yes
Soper Yes
Titone Yes
Van Beber Yes
Weissman Yes
Will Yes
Woog Yes
Valdez A. Yes
Hooton Yes
Final YES: 12   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


08:40:20 PM   The committee adjourned.