h_tra_2016a_2016-04-27t13:35:02z2 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/27/2016

04:36 PM



The committee returned to order.



04:36 PM -- HB 16-1441



Representative Tyler, prime sponsor, came to the table to present House Bill 16-1441. The bill requires the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to consider the following costs of greenhouse gas emissions when considering a utility's proposal for electric resource planning:



• the likelihood of new environmental regulations concerning greenhouse gas emissions; and

• the present and future costs associated with the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane based on the cost of carbon.



The PUC shall determine the costs annually based on a review of the most appropriate national and regional markets for carbon dioxide emissions (carbon) for Colorado. Electric resource plans submitted to the PUC by regulated utilities must account for the cost of greenhouse gas emissions based on this determination.



04:43 PM



Representative Tyler responded to questions from the committee.



04:47 PM -- Richard Orf, representing the Colorado Mining Association and the AGNC, testified in opposition to the bill.

04:49 PM -- Molly May, representing Clean Energy Action, testified in support of the bill.

04:51 PM -- RJ Harrington, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Harrington responded to questions from the committee.

05:02 PM -- Jonathan Koehn, representing the City of Boulder and Boulder County, testified in support of the bill.

05:06 PM -- Roger Freeman, representing the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association and COSEIA, testified in support of the bill.

05:09 PM -- Jan Douglas, representing the Sierra Club, testified in support of the bill.

05:12 PM -- Becky English, representing CRES, testified in support of the bill.



05:16 PM -- Tom Easley, representing the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization, testified in support of the bill. A copy of his written testimony (Attachment C) was distributed to the committee.



160427 AttachC.pdf



05:18 PM -- Laurent Meillon, representing CRES, testified in support of the bill. A handout detailing PUC metrics for approving energy asset investments (Attachment D) was distributed to the committee.



160427 AttachD.pdf



05:24 PM -- Frank Swain, representing Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

05:26 PM -- Stella Meillon, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



05:27 PM



Representative Coram explained amendment L.002 (Attachment E). Committee discussion ensued.



160427 AttachE.pdf

05:34 PM



The committee adjourned.