s_agr_2016a_2016-02-11t13:31:00z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/11/2016

01:32 PM -- SB 16-007



Senator Roberts. sponsor, described the provisions of Senate Bill 16-007 concerning biomass renewable energy and wildfire high risk areas. She also distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment A) concerning biochar and distributed a letter of support for the bill from Dan Casey, President, Colorado Timber Industry Association (Attachment B). Current law requires Colorado retail electric service providers to generate, or cause to be generated, a specified portion of its sales from eligible energy resources, including renewable energy resources. One of the eligible energy resources is biomass. For a period of up to 30 years, this bill specifies that each kilowatt-hour of electricity generated from a biomass source using forest materials taken from areas with a high risk of wildfire will count as 3 kilowatt-hours for purposes of complying with the renewable energy standard (RES).



160211 AttachA.pdf 160211 AttachB.pdf



The following persons testified on the bill:



01:37 PM -- Becky Long, Conservation Colorado, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the effect of renewable energy multipliers on renewable energy generation and compliance with the state RES. She also responded to questions for the committee about her organization's support for SB 13-252 that included a multiplier for certain types of renewable energy generation.



01:40 PM -- Lauren Meillon, Colorado Renewable Energy Society, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the benefits of biochar on soil health and carbon sequestration.



01:46 PM -- J.R. Ford, Pagosa Land Company, spoke in support of the bill and discussed a proposed biomass facility he is seeking to build in Archuletta County in Southwest Colorado (Attachment C). He also responded to questions from the committee about the type of trees that are used in biomass facilities and potential customers for his biomass facility's electric power.



160211 AttachC.pdf



01:55 PM -- Ron Larson, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and distributed a fact sheet on biochar (Attachment D). He also discussed the benefits of biochar on soil health, carbon sequestration, and energy reliability.



160211 AttachD.pdf



02:01 PM -- Paul Cooke, Director, Division of Fire Prevention and Control in the Department of Public Safety, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the growing threat of wildland fires in Colorado.



02:04 PM -- Chris Treese, Colorado River Water Conservation District, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the role of forest health on the quality of Colorado rivers and streams.



02:06 PM -- Dr. John Field, representing himself, explained that he is neutral on the bill and discussed research on bio-energy production and related benefits.



The following person testified remotely on the bill:



02:11 PM -- Bruce Whitehead, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and discussed efforts to promote biomass as a means of managing forest health and protecting watersheds.



02:14 PM



The chair closed testimony and Senator Roberts closed her remarks on the bill. She also responded to questions from the committee about Amendment L.001 (Attachment A).