Date: 04/28/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1345

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ENERGY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer House Bill 09-1345 to the CommitteePASS



03:40 PM -- House Bill 09-1345

Senator Schwartz, sponsor, described the provisions of the reengrossed House Bill 09-1345 that requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in the Department of Regulatory Agencies to investigate and report to the legislature on transmission planning by electric utilities in Colorado. The report must address adequacy, interstate coordination, the need for future legislative action, and other issues identified by stakeholders and other government agencies. A progress report is due by November 1, 2009, and a final report is due by July 1, 2010.

The following persons testified on the bill:

03:43 PM -- Ron Binz, Chairman of the PUC, spoke in support of the bill and described the need for electric transmission infrastructure development to increase energy generation in Colorado. He also responded to questions from the committee.

03:48 PM -- Craig Cox, Interwest Energy Alliance, spoke in support of the bill. He also responded to questions from the committee about the extent of coordination between the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) and other energy providers in the development of energy transmission.

03:51 PM -- Heidi Wagner, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, explained that her organization is neutral on the bill and responded to questions from the committee.

04:03 PM -- Keith Hay, Environment Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.

04:03 PM -- Cory Blair, E. ON Climate and Renewables, spoke in support of the bill. He also described Colorado's renewable energy resources and the need to increase electric transmission infrastructure to develop this resource.

04:11 PM -- Mr. Binz returned to answer questions from the committee about the coordination in the planning and development of transmission infrastructure between WAPA, the PUC, and other energy providers. He also described the role of the PUC in the planning and development of transmission infrastructure.

04:20 PM

Senator Schwartz closed her remarks on the bill.

BILL:HB09-1345
TIME: 04:21:41 PM
MOVED:Schwartz
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 09-1345 to the Committee of the Whole, without amendment, and with a recommendation that it be added to the consent calendar. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Yes
Hodge
Yes
Kester
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Newell
Yes
Foster
Yes
Schwartz
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




04:22 PM

The committee recessed.