S_TRA_2023A 05/01/2023 04:24:57 PM Committee Summary

Richard Orf, representing Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Dean Krueger, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Keith Hay, representing Colorado Energy Office, testified in support of the bill.

Wilson Harper, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Commissioner Kevin Ross, representing Weld County, testified in support of the bill. Phil Ord, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Tamara Haynes-Norton, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mark Hinaman, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Written testimony is included as Attachment A.

Senators Roberts and R. Pelton gave closing remarks on the bill.

Captain John Hahn, representing Colorado State Patrol, testified to amend the bill. Greg Fulton, representing Colorado Motor Carriers Association, testified in support of the bill.

The sponsors gave closing remarks.

County Commissioner Matt Scherr, representing Colorado Communities for Climate Action, testified in support of the bill. Keith Hay, representing Colorado Energy Office, testified in support of the bill. Elena Santarella, representing BlueGreen Alliance, testified in support of the bill. Valley Lopez, representing 350 Colorado, testified in a neutral position on the bill. Quinn Antus, representing Signal Tech Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Hay responded to questions from the committee.

Written testimony is included as Attachment C.

Senator Hansen gave closing remarks.

County Commissioner Jake Niece, representing Colorado Communities for Climate Action, testified in support of the bill. Ruth Hund, representing Sierra Club, testified in support of the bill. Gwen Farnsworth, representing Western Resource Advocates, testified in support of the bill.

Keith Hay, representing Colorado Energy Office, testified in support of the bill. Elena Santarella, representing BlueGreen Alliance, testified in support of the bill. Jan Rose, representing Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Hay responded to questions from the committee.

Written testimony is included as Attachment D.

Senator Exum gave closing remarks.

Senators Cutter and Priola, co-prime sponsors, introduced and explained House Bill 23-1069 Study Biochar in Plugging of Oil & Gas Wells. The bill creates a work group to study the use of biochar in plugging oil and gas wells.

Jan Rose, representing Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate (CCLC), testified in support of the bill. Valley Lopez, representing 350 Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Janis Hallowell, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ruth Hund, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Anita Seitz, representing Colorado Communities for Climate Action, read testimony on behalf of Council Member Katherine Goff in support of the bill. Irene Andress, representing Colorado Sierra Club, testified in support of the bill. Director Julie Murphy, representing Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Department of Natural Resources, was available to answer committee questions.

Senators Priola and Cutter gave closing remarks on the bill.

Senator Simpson gave closing comments.

Senators Priola and Cutter, co-prime sponsors, introduced and explained House Bill 23-1242 Water Conservation in Oil & Gas Operations. The bill places new reporting requirements on oil and gas operators concerning water use and requires the Department of Natural Resources to adopt rules to reduce, reuse, and recycle water used in oil and gas operations. The bill creates the Colorado Produced Water Consortium to analyze and report on the recycling and reuse of water produced as a byproduct of oil and gas operations.

Ruth Hund, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Kevin Chan, representing Save the Aurora reservoir, testified in support of the bill. Patricia Garcia Nelson, representing GreenLatinos, testified in support of the bill. Irene Andres, representing Colorado Sierra Club, testified in support of the bill.