H_ENE_2025A 02/27/2025 01:31:02 PM Committee Summary

The committee asked the presenters questions.

Representative Bird,
sponsor, introduced and explained House Bill 25-1042 Air Quality Control
Regulation Workforce Impact. The bill creates a Workforce Advisory Council
within the Department of Public Health and Environment to examine air quality
control rulemaking.



The committee
gave comments on the bill.

Heidi Leathwood,
representing 350 Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Sam
Gilchrist, representing Natural Resources Defense Council, testified to
amend the bill. Ramesh Bhatt, representing Colorado Sierra Club, testified
in opposition to the bill. Megan Kemp, representing Earthjustice, testified
in opposition to the bill. Renee Chacon, representing Commerce City City
Council, testified to amend the bill.



The committee
asked the panel of witnesses questions.

Commissioner James,
representing Weld County Board of County Commissioners, testified in support
of the bill. Mr. Phil Hayes, representing International Brotherhood of
Elictrical Workers (IBEW) Local 68 and Local 111, testified in support
of the bill. Gary Arnold, representing Denver Pipefitters Local 208, testified
in support of the bill. Summer Hill, representing Denver Metro Chamber
of Commerce, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Brittany Dixon, representing
Club 20, testified in support of the bill.



The committee
asked the panel of witnesses questions.



Additional written
testimony is included as Attachment C.

The committee took a brief recess.

The committee took it back to order.

The committee gave comments on the bill.

Michael Widhalm,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. David Cardella,
representing Colorado Independent AutoDealers Association (CIADA), testified
in support of the bill. Jambo Woldyohannis, representing Jambo Motors,
testified in support of the bill. Joe Fuentes, representing MC Motors,
testified in support of the bill. Max Hibbard, representing Maxwell Auto
Group LLC, testified in support of the bill. Travis Madsen, representing
Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, testified in support of the bill.
Mr. Nick  Steingart, representing Alliance for Automotive Innovation,
testified in opposition to the bill.



The committee
asked the panel of witnesses questions.

Co-sponsors, Representatives Paschal and Soper, introduced House Bill 24-1165 Geologic Storage Enterprise & Geothermal Resources. The bill creates an enterprise to support geologic storage operations and updates regulations for certain geothermal resources.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Heidi Leathwood,
representing 350 Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Mark
 Detzky, representing Strawberry Hot Springs, testified in opposition
to the bill. Dr. Ramesh Bhatt, representing Colorado Sierra Club, testified
in opposition to the bill. Mr. Brien Webster, representing Conservation
Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Jeany  Rush, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Kevin  Flohr, representing
Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Steve
Beckley, representing Iron Mountain Hot Springs, testified in opposition
to the bill. Thomas Warren, representing Princeton Holdings, LLC, testified
in support of the bill. Ms. Sarah Klahn, Attorney representing Mount Princeton
Hot Springs Resort, testified in support of the bill.



The committee
asked the panel of witnesses questions.

Dan Sanders, representing
Front Range Energy, testified to amend the bill. John  Jacus, representing
Front Range Energy, testified to amend the bill. Katie Schneer, representing
Environmental Defense Fund, testified to amend the bill.



The committee
asked the panel of witnesses questions.

Aaron Ray, representing
Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. Mike
Rigby, representing Energy & Carbon Management Commission, Department
of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. Kevin Donegan,
representing Division of Water Resources, Department of Natural Resources,
testified in support of the bill. Mr. Chris  Neidl, representing The
Direct Air Capture Coalition, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Joshua
Weaver, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Dave
Colvin, representing Colorado Water Congress - State Affairs Committee,
testified in support of the bill. Quinn Antus, representing Colorado Energy
Office, testified in support of the bill. Dan West, representing Clean
Air Task Force, testified in support of the bill.



The committee
asked the panel of witnesses questions. Ben Boudreaux, representing Department
of law, was available to answer committee questions.



Additional written
testimony is included as Attachment G.

The committee asked the sponsor questions on the bill.

Stefanie Shoup, representing
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in opposition
to the bill. Alison Morgan, representing Colorado Bankers Association,
testified in opposition to the bill. Kait Schwartz, representing American
Petroleum Institute Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Angie
Binder, representing Colorado Petroleum Association, testified in opposition
to the bill. Annie Stefanec, representing EVRAZ North America, testified
in opposition to the bill. Ms. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified
in opposition to the bill. Mr. Kreg  Vollmer, representing Colorado
Farm Bureau, testified in opposition to the bill.



The panel responded
to questions from the committee.

Meghan Dollar, representing
Colorado Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill. Rachel
Beck, representing Colorado Competitive Council, testified in opposition
to the bill. Angie Howes, representing the Colorado Retail Council, testified
in opposition to the bill. Ms. Brittany Dixon, representing Club 20, testified
in opposition to the bill. Mrs. Alicia Gelinas, representing Colorado Society
of CPAs, testified to amend the bill. Phoebe Blessing, representing Colorado
Hospital Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Bil Groffy,
representing Colorado Oil and Gas Association, testified in opposition
of the bill.



The committee
asked the panel of witnesses questions.

Mr. Aidan Cook, representing Pro-Animal Future, testified in support of the bill. Justin Clark, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Anne Fulton, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Heidi Leathwood, representing 350 Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Walter Booth, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Gizzi Angela, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. The committee asked the panel of witnesses questions.

Nicholas Dickman,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Vanessa Toyryla,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Withaar Dani,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Benjamin Murphy,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Additional written
testimony is included as Attachment M.

The sponsor gave closing comments.

The committee gave closing comments on the bill.