Bill Summary for Bill Number HB10-1349

Date: 05/04/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB10-1349

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ENERGY

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved Amendment L. 011 (Attachment C). The motion Moved to refer House Bill 10-1349 to the Committee	Pass Without Objection PASS

02:18 PM -- House Bill 10-1349

Senators Schwartz and Tapia, co-prime sponsors, described the provisions of House Bill 10-1349 concerning renewable energy for State Parks and distributed Amendment L. 011 (Attachment C). Senator Schwartz also responded to questions from the committee about the bill.

The reengrossed bill creates the Re-energize Colorado Program in the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The program seeks to generate or offset 100 percent of the division's electrical consumption by 2020 with the use of energy resources on land owned, leased, or controlled by the division. Currently, a qualifying retail utility can waive some of the existing limits placed on net metering (the way retail credits are determined for a customer's electricity generation) and energy generated on a customer's property. To support the program's goal, the bill requires the Governor's Energy Office (GEO) to conduct a Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis to determine the optimum state park land for renewable energy development. The bill also authorizes the DNR to acquire lands that have the potential to support renewable energy generation development. The bill further directs the Public Utilities Commission to give the fullest possible consideration to approving projects developed under the Re-energize Colorado Program with particular attention to those projects that offer the prospect of job creation and local economic growth.

The following persons testified on the bill:

02:30 PM -- Jeff Lyng, Governor's Energy Office, spoke in support of the bill and explained that the GIS analysis would be paid for using federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. He described how the bill would affect the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation operating budget and the cost of producing electricity using photovoltaic generation systems. He also responded to question from the committee about state laws concerning cost recovery by utilities for use of renewable energy generation, penalties if the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation fails to comply with the bill's requirements, and other issues.

02:44 PM

Senator Schwartz explained that page 8 of the reengrossed bill defines eligible energy resources as the same as those listed in the renewable energy standard (Section 40-2-12 (1) (a), C.R.S.).

02:45 PM -- Peter Minahan, Black Hills Energy, spoke in support of the bill if Amendment L. 011 (Attachment C) is adopted. He also described a solar energy project that may be constructed at Pueblo State Park if the bill becomes law.

02:50 PM -- Any White, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, spoke in support of the bill. He also responded to questions from the committee about the cost to implement the bill by the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation and the potential impact to scenic views in State Parks where the renewable energy generation systems may be built.

03:02 PM

Senator Tapia, prime sponsor, explained that Pueblo State Park is a possible site for a renewable energy generation facility.

03:07 PM -- Mr. Lyng returned to responded to questions from the committee about the possibility that State Parks could overdevelop renewable energy generation facilities to help raise revenue and resolve budget challenges.

03:19 PM

Senator Schwartz described potential oversight by the Capital Development Committee for the development of renewable energy generation facilities on State Park land.

03:21 PM -- Charlie Montgomery, Colorado Environmental Coalition, spoke in support of the bill and described how such projects could help educate the public about the renewable energy issues.

03:24 PM -- Geof Hier, Colorado Rural Electric Association, explained that his organization was opposed to the bill as introduced. However, Amendment L.005 that was adopted in the House and Amendment L. 011 (Attachment C) resolved his organization's concerns about the effect of the bill on customer rates.

Roy Palmer, Vice President, Xcel Energy, submitted a letter of support for the bill (Attachment D).


BILL:	HB10-1349
TIME:	03:28:00 PM
MOVED:	Schwartz
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L. 011 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Cadman
	Hodge
	Kester
	Lundberg
	Newell
	Foster
	Schwartz

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB10-1349
TIME:	03:28:38 PM
MOVED:	Schwartz
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 10-1349 to the Committee on Appropriations, as amended. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 5 to 2.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Cadman	No
	Hodge	Yes
	Kester	Yes
	Lundberg	No
	Newell	Yes
	Foster	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes

Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:31 PM

The meeting adjourned.