We have made important advances over the last several years, creating jobs and protecting the environment. Now is the time to implement these policies and make sure we grow the economy, bring jobs to Colorado and ensure our air, water, landscapes and wildlife are protected. We support strong rules and regulations that protect our environment and public health from bad actor oil and gas operations. Additionally, we want to ensure that uranium mining and processing operations don’t leave a toxic legacy for Colorado, and contaminated water and soil is safely cleaned up. Finally, we will strongly oppose any efforts to roll back advances made to protect Colorado’s environment and make the state a leader in clean energy job creation.

House Bill 1016 – PUC Ex Parte Communications - Full Text of Bill – Bill Details and Votes
Status – Postponed Indefinitely – Environment WIN

Would allow a person or business involved in a hearing with the Public Utilities Commission to seek disqualification of a commissioner based on “impartiality.”  This could be used to remove any commissioner for past support of clean energy policy.  Sponsored by Representative Balmer. NO is the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1036 – Open Records Act Clarification - Full Text of Bill – Bill Details and Votes
Status – Sent to Governor – Environment LOSS

While the intention of this bill is to clarify the use of the Open Records Act during criminal proceedings, it has the side effect of sealing some important environmental records away from the public.   Sponsored by Representative Kerr and Senator Boyd. NO is the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1102 – Cap Clean Air Clean Jobs Electricity Rate Impact - Full Text of Bill – Bill Details and Votes
Status – Postponed Indefinitely – Environment WIN

Limits the ability of utilities to recover the costs associated with switching from coal power to renewable and cleaner burning sources of energy.  Sponsored by Representative Swalm and Senator Tochtrop. NO is the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1121 – PUC Hearings Utility Ratepayers’ Bill Of Rights - Full Text of Bill – Bill Details and Votes
Status – Killed on Calendar – Environment WIN

Prohibits utilities from seeking rate increases to offset costs associated with more responsible energy development.  Sponsored by Representative Swalm. NO is the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1123 – PUC Report To GA On Rate Case Hearings - Full Text of Bill – Bill Details and Votes
Status – Postponed Indefinitely – Environment WIN

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to report to the General Assembly on all cases heard that involve potential rate increases.  The reporting requirements are designed to highlight short-term economic impacts while ignoring long-term environmental gains.  Sponsored by Representative Conti. NO is the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1160 – Captured Methane from Coal Mines - Full Text of Bill – Bill Details and Votes
Status – Killed on Calendar – Environment WIN

Weakens Colorado’s Renewable Energy Standard by defining methane captured from coal mining operations as a renewable energy source.  While we strongly agree with creating incentives for capturing methane from mining operations, Colorado should not do so at the direct cost of zero-emission energy sources.  Sponsored by Representative Baumgardner and Senator Schwartz. NO is the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1166 – Track Utility Data High Performance State Building - Full Text of Bill – Bill Details and Votes
Status – Postponed Indefinitely – Environment LOSS

Creates tracking reports to monitor utility use in state buildings and standardizes efficiency criteria for state funded buildings.  Sponsored by Representative Jones and Senator Bacon. YES is the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1172 – Electric Utility No Imputed Carbon Tax - Full Text of Bill – Bill Details and Votes
Status – Postponed Indefinitely – Environment WIN

Forbids the PUC from anticipating potential federal carbon taxes when considering rate increases and eliminates existing tiered rates for residential consumers during peak usage months.  Sponsored by Representative Swalm. NO is the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1351 – Recycled Energy Includes Gas Derived from Waste - Full Text of Bill – Bill Details and Votes
Status – Killed on Calendar – Environment WIN

Weakens Colorado’s 30% renewable energy standard by allowing the use of a technology that requires a fossil fuel to ignite tobe considered a renewable energy.  Sponsored by Representative Becker and Senator Tochtrop. NO is the pro-environment vote.

House Bill 1356 – No Severance Tax Money for Local Governments that Impact Oil & Gas - Full Text of Bill – Bill Details and Votes
Status – Killed on Calendar – Environment WIN

Attempts to remove local input on oil and gas development by disqualifying any local government that restricts energy development in any way from applying for grants from the severance tax fund to mitigate damage caused by local oil & gas production.  Sponsored by Representative Sonnenberg and Senator Brophy. NO is the pro-environment vote.

Senate Bill 088 – Preempt Local Regulation of Oil & Gas Operations - Full Text of Bill – Bill Details and Votes
Status – Postponed Indefinitely – Environment WIN

As oil and gas drilling moves closer to Colorado’s population centers, some counties and municipalities are creating their own ordinances to direct drilling within their districts.  This bill would ban such local ordinances and reduce local control of energy development.  Sponsored by Senator Harvey. NO is the pro-environment vote.