Date: 02/10/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-051

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ENERGY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt Amendment L.002 (Attachment G). The motion
Adopt Amendment L.003 (Attachment H). The motion
Adopt Amendment L.005 (Attachment I). The motion
Adopt Amendment L.006 (Attachment K). The motion
Adopt Amendment L.009 (Attachment J). The motion
Refer Senate Bill 09-051, as amended, to the Commi
Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS
Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS



04:23 PM -- Senate Bill 09-051


The committee came back to order. The meeting moved to Senate Committee Room 356 to accommodate the audience for Senate Bill 09-051. Senator Morgan Carroll, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-051, which increases the amount that the State Treasurer may invest as part of the Colorado Clean Energy Finance Program from $30 million to $40 million. The bill also amends the Colorado Clean Energy Finance Program Act to include banks, credit unions, and mortgage lenders among the types of lenders that may make loans under the program. It includes renewable energy developers and installers of solar panels and other renewable energy generation equipment among the contractors that the program may certify. Senator Carroll distributed and briefly spoke to Amendment L.002 (Attachment G), Amendment L.003 (Attachment H), Amendment L.005 (Attachment I), and Amendment L.009 (Attachment J). Senator Carroll made introductory remarks about the bill and addressed questions from the committee. Senator Carroll distributed and spoke to Amendment L.006 (Attachment K) in response to a question about rural electric associations.

09SenateLoc0210AttachG.pdf 09SenateLoc0210AttachH.pdf

09SenateLoc0210AttachI.pdf 09SenateLoc0210AttachJ.pdf

09SenateLoc0210AttachK.pdf

The following people testified on the bill:

04:39 PM --
Mr. Ravi Malhotra, representing the International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology, spoke in support of the bill. Committee members received a copy of Mr. Malhotra's testimony (Attachment L).

09SenateLoc0210AttachL.pdf

04:46 PM --
Mr. Martin Mobley, representing Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., spoke in support of the bill. Committee members received a copy of Mr. Mobley's testimony (Attachment M).

09SenateLoc0210AttachM.pdf

04:58 PM --
Mr. Rick Gilliam, representing Sun Edison, LLC, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Gilliam spoke about third-party ownership of solar panels.

05:02 PM --
Mr. Amory Host and Mr. J.W. Postal, representing Mainstreet Power, spoke in support of the bill. Committee members received a summary of Mr. Postal's and Mr. Host's testimony (Attachment N). Mr. Postal discussed the financing of the bill and Mr. Host spoke about different solar power systems in use in the state. Mr. Postal addressed a question about funding for workforce development. Discussion ensued.

09SenateLoc0210AttachN.pdf

05:23 PM --
Mr. Robert DuRay, representing New Era Colorado, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. DuRay talked about the significance of extending the benefits of the Colorado Clean Energy Finance Program to landlords and renters. Senator Carroll clarified the bill's effect on rented property.

05:30 PM --
Mr. Erik Bowman, representing Akeena Solar, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Bowman said that his goal is to get more jobs in the state. Mr. Bowman addressed a question about trends in the demand for products manufactured by his company. Discussion ensued.

05:39 PM --
Mr. Ken Regelson , representing the Colorado Solar Energy Corporation (COSEA), spoke in support of the bill.

05:40 PM --
Ms. Beth Hart, also representing COSEA, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Hart explained who COSEA represents. She said she supports the bill because of the types and size of solar power systems included.

05:42 PM --
Mr. Keith Hay, representing Environment Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.

05:44 PM --
Mr. Roger Tullberg, representing Liberty Media, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Tullberg said his organization is very interested in developing solar projects in Colorado and other states. Mr. Tullberg spoke in support of Amendment L.003.

05:48 PM --
Ms. Paula Connelly, representing Xcel Energy, spoke in support of Amendment L.006. Ms. Connelly discussed her organization's support for third-party ownership of solar panels. Ms. Connelly answered a question about the effect of Amendment L.006.

05:58 PM --
Mr. Dave Lock, representing the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities, spoke in support of Amendment L.006. Mr. Lock also spoke in opposition of Amendment L.010, which was not offered as an amendment to the bill.

06:02 PM --
Ms. Barbara Walker, representing Independent Bankers of Colorado, spoke in support of Amendment L.005. Ms. Walker said she believes the bill, if amended, will provide job opportunities. Senator Carroll briefly explained Amendment L.005.

06:07 PM --
Mr. Ray Clifton and Mr. Kent Singer, representing the Colorado Rural Electric Association, and Mr. Paul Erickson, representing Rural Electric Cooperatives, spoke in support of Amendment L.006. Mr. Erickson compared the revenue collected per mile of electric line between different rural cooperatives and urban organizations. Mr. Clifton explained rural electric cooperatives' need for Amendment L.006. Mr. Singer addressed the statutory changes that will be made by the bill and Amendment L.006, and how the changes will impact the rural electric cooperatives.


06:19 PM
BILL:SB09-051
TIME: 06:19:56 PM
MOVED:Hodge
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 09-051, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation. The bill passed on a vote of 4-3.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
No
Hodge
Yes
Kester
No
Lundberg
No
Newell
Yes
Foster
Yes
Schwartz
Yes
Final YES: 4 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

Prior to the vote, Senator Lundberg expressed his reservations about the bill. Discussion ensued.
BILL:SB09-051
TIME: 06:27:20 PM
MOVED:Hodge
MOTION:Adopt Amendment L.009 (Attachment J). 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

Prior to the vote, Senator Carroll briefly explained Amendment L.009 and addressed questions from the committee.
BILL:SB09-051
TIME: 06:23:46 PM
MOVED:Hodge
MOTION:Adopt Amendment L.006 (Attachment K). 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

Prior to the vote, Senator Carroll explained Amendment L.006 and responded to a question about how the amendment effects rural and municipal electric associations.
BILL:SB09-051
TIME: 06:22:04 PM
MOVED:Hodge
MOTION:Adopt Amendment L.005 (Attachment I). The motion passed on a vote of 5-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Yes
Hodge
Yes
Kester
No
Lundberg
No
Newell
Yes
Foster
Yes
Schwartz
Yes
Not Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

Prior to the vote, Senator Carroll briefly explained Amendment L.005.
BILL:SB09-051
TIME: 06:22:05 PM
MOVED:Hodge
MOTION:Adopt Amendment L.003 (Attachment H). 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

Prior to the vote, Senator Carroll asked for the committee's support for Amendment L.003.
BILL:SB09-051
TIME: 06:21:33 PM
MOVED:Hodge
MOTION:Adopt Amendment L.002 (Attachment G). 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

Prior to the vote, Senator Carroll briefly explained Amendment L.002.



06:34 PM

The committee adjourned.