Date: 04/27/2009

Final
SUMMARY for SJM09-008

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved that Senate Joint Memorial 09-008 be postponPASS

03:59 PM -- SUMMARY for SJM 09-008

Senator Kopp, prime sponsor, presented Senate Joint Memorial 09-008, concerning reservations about Congress' intent to implement a cap-and-trade regulatory program to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. He commented on the decision of the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide as a harmful pollutant. He said that federal legislation on the topic will dramatically affect the public and that the issue of global warming is not at the top of the list of concerns of Americans.

The following persons testified in regard to Senate Joint Memorial 09-008:

04:05 PM -- Stan Lewandowski, representing the Intermountain Rural Electric Association, said that the issue of global warming will be resolved based on its economic consequences rather than on the science involved. He said that utility customers are primarily concerned with the cost of their electricity. He said that 4,900 megawatts of additional power are needed in Colorado, and that enormous costs are involved with the federal cap-and-trade proposal.

04:08 PM -- Diana Orf, representing the Colorado Mining Association (CMA), said that the board of the CMA has not yet taken a position on the pending federal cap-and-trade legislation. However, she said that it is a principle of her organization to oppose measures that will increase costs to consumers. She suggested that the appropriate route to take in regard to global warming is a reliance on incentives. She said that the technology in this area is not yet ready to be deployed. She noted that federal proposals in this policy area are in a state of flux. She said that it is appropriate that the General Assembly urge Congress to act cautiously regarding global warming.

04:12 PM -- Barbara Walz, representing Tri-State Electric, commented on the potential cost impact of cap-and-trade on her business' customers. Senator Kopp commented on anticipated utility cost increases that could result from federal cap-and-trade legislation and he commented on potential job losses in Colorado if cap-and-trade is adopted.
BILL:SJM 09-008
TIME: 04:23:28 PM
MOVED:Bacon
MOTION:Moved that Senate Joint Memorial 09-008 be postponed indefinitely. The motion passed on a 3-2-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Cadman
No
Schultheis
No
Bacon
Yes
Williams
Yes
Final YES: 3 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


04:24 PM

The committee meeting recessed.