June 2021 Climate Legislation Wrap-Up
CEA thanks Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate (CCLC) for providing the following legislative update.
The 2021 Colorado legislative session is complete! By our count, there were 57 climate-related bills that we tracked this session. Most passed, including a couple of our favorites, the Community Choice Energy bill, HB21-1269, and Renewable Energy Generation, SB21-261.
A significant development in the last month was that, under threat of veto, most of the big emissions reduction bill, SB21-200, was added to HB21-1266 - which, according to sponsor Senator Faith Winter, retained 13 of the 16 items. Even though it’s not as strong as the original bill, it’s still a significant win for climate advocacy!
Read on to see how the climate bills fared this year. New bills since last month are marked with a ✅.
Scorecard for bills that CEA took a position on:
Supported and Passed or Opposed and Failed: 15 13/16
Supported and Failed or Opposed and Passed: 3
Utilities
Passed HB21-1052 | Define Pumped Hydroelectricity As Renewable Energy
Passed, Support HB21-1131 | Cooperative Electric Associations Governance Requirements
Passed, Support HB21-1269 | Public Utilities Commission Study Of Community Choice Energy
✅ Passed HB21-1322 | Gasoline And Special Fuel Tax Restructuring
✅ Passed HB21-1324 | Promote Innovative And Clean Energy Technologies
Passed, Support SB21-108 | PUC Gas Utility Safety Inspection Authority
Passed, Support SB21-261 | Public Utilities Commission Encourage Renewable Energy Generation
Passed SB21-264 | Adopt Programs Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Utilities | (Replacement of SB21-161)
Passed, Oppose as written SB21-072 | Public Utilities Commission Modernize Electric Transmission Infrastructure
✅ Passed SB21-272 | Measures To Modernize The Public Utilities Commission
✅ Passed SB21-281 | State Severance Tax Trust Fund Allocation
GHGs Pollution
Passed HB21-1186 | Regional Transportation District Operation
Passed, Support HB21-1189 | Regulate Air Toxics
Failed, Oppose HB21-1205 | Electric Vehicle Road Usage Equalization Fee
Passed HB21-1230 | Create User-friendly State Internet Rules Portal
Passed HB21-1247 | Colorado Department Of Public Health And Environment Contract Pay To Grantees Up Front
✅ Passed, Support HB21-1266 | Environmental Justice Disproportionate Impacted Community
Passed HB21-1290 | Additional Funding For Just Transition
Passed, Support HB21-1303 | Global Warming Potential For Public Project Materials
Failed, Oppose SB21-114 | Minimum Setback New Schools From Existing Oil And Gas
Failed, Oppose SB21-125 | Alternate Proposals Air Quality Control Rulemaking
Failed SB21-149 | Wind Energy Facilities Sited Near Military Operations
Withdrawn, see SB21-264 SB21-161 | Voluntary Reduce Greenhouse Gas Natural Gas Utility
Failed, Oppose SB21-163 | Cost-benefit Analysis For Rules Additional Requirements
Withdrawn, see HB21-1266, Support SB21-200 | Reduce Greenhouse Gases Increase Environmental Justice
Passed, Support SB21-238 | Create Front Range Passenger Rail District
Passed SB21-260 | Sustainability Of The Transportation System
Built Environment
Failed, Oppose HB21-1034 | Consumer Right To Use Natural Gas Or Propane
Passed, Support HB21-1238 | Public Utilities Commission Modernize Gas Utility Demand-side Management Standards
Passed HB21-1253 | Renewable And Clean Energy Project Grants
Passed HB21-1284 | Limit Fee Install Active Solar Energy System
Passed, Support HB21-1286 | Energy Performance For Buildings
Passed SB21-220 | Reverse Transfers From Severance Tax Operational Fund
Passed SB21-230 | Transfer To Colorado Energy Office Energy Fund
Passed SB21-231 | Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Grants
Passed, Support SB21-246 | Electric Utility Promote Beneficial Electrification
Climate Impacts
Passed HB21-1008 | Forest Health Project Financing
Passed HB21-1141 | Electric Vehicle License Plate
Passed HB21-1145 | Support Pollinator Special License Plate
Passed HB21-1149 | Energy Sector Career Pathway In Higher Education
Passed HB21-1156 | Fix Defects Related To Severance Withholdings
Passed HB21-1162 | Management Of Plastic Products
Passed HB21-1180 | Measures To Increase Biomass Utilization
Passed HB21-1181 | Agricultural Soil Health Program
Passed HB21-1186 | Regional Transportation District Operation
Failed, Support HB21-1199 | Consumer Digital Repair Bill Of Rights
Passed HB21-1208 | Natural Disaster Mitigation Enterprise
Passed HB21-1242 | Create Agricultural Drought And Climate Resilience Office
Failed, Support HB21-1246 | PERA Public Employees' Retirement Association Divestment From Fossil Fuel Companies
Passed HB21-1274 | Unused State-owned Real Property Beneficial Use
✅ Passed HB21-1312 | Insurance Premium Property Sales Severance Tax
Failed SB21-034 | Water Resource Financing Enterprise
Failed SB21-180 | Recycling And Composting Enterprise Grant Program
Passed SB21-221 | Projects Under Wildfire Risk Mitigation Grant Program
Passed SB21-234 | General Fund Transfer Agriculture And Drought Resiliency
Passed SB21-235 | Stimulus Funding Department Of Agriculture Efficiency Programs
Passed SB21-258 | Wildfire Risk Mitigation
