D7CADEF4840A9C578725851B007C1A46 Hearing Summary CLICS/CLICS2020A/commsumm.nsf PUBLICBILL SUMMARY For SB20-168SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGYDate Feb 27, 2020 Location SCR 352 SB20-168 - Amended, referred to Senate Finance 03:35:33 PM Senators Hansen and Pettersen, co-prime bill sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 20-168, concerning tax policy that promotes environmental sustainability. The bill modifies the community solar garden property tax, extending the exemption for five additional property tax years. The exemption will also apply to a garden that is a solar energy facility. Local governments will receive assistance for the extension of this exemption through the sustainable energy tax policy fund. The bill inidicates that TABOR refund mechanisms only apply after refunds are made to counties for the reimbursements for senior homestead exemptions. The bill also changes the way that solar energy facilities are valued, as well as the the coal severance tax, effective July 2, 2021. Additional taxes collected from changes to the coal severance tax will be credited to the Sustainable Energy Policy Fund. 03:41:56 PM Mike Kruger, representing the Colorado Solar and Storage Association, testified in support of the bill. Daniel Merkle, representing Pivot Energy, testified in support of the bill. Kevin Cray, representing the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA), testified in support of the bill. Michael Krueger, representing the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, came to the table to answer questions from the committee. Brett Moore, representing EDP Renewables and the Interwest Energy Alliance, testified in support of the bill. 03:53:35 PM Jerald Bouwens, representing the coal industry, testified in opposition to the bill. Ryan Vinzke, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Srdjan Brstina, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. William Davis, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. 04:00:02 PM The witness panel responded to questions from the committee. 04:02:22 PM The following witness panel testified remotely from Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs. Doug Monger, representing Routt County, testified in opposition to the bill. Edwin Brady, representing Peabody Energy, testified in opposition to the bill. Jayme Sobieralski, representing Peabody Energy and Twentymile Mine, testified in opposition to the bill. Leslie How, representing Peabody Energy, testified in opposition to the bill. 04:17:23 PM Gina Lotito, representing GCC Energy, testified in opposition to the bill. Mike Zimmerman, representing the coal industry, testified in opposition to the bill. Clay Copeland, representing the coal industry, testified in opposition to the bill. Jeremy Robertson, representing the coal industry, testified in opposition to the bill. 04:26:30 PM Weston Norris, representing the West Elk Mine, testified remotely from Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, in opposition to the bill. 04:29:49 PM Pat Sollars, representing the coal industry, testified in opposition to the bill. Candice Trujillo, representing the coal industry, testified in opposition to the bill. Levi Muhome, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Jenna Spencer, representing the coal industry, testified in opposition to the bill. 04:39:04 PM The witness panel responded to questions from the committee. 04:39:32 PM William LoPro, representing Blue Mountain Energy, testified in opposition to the bill. Jeff Dubbert, representing the coal industry, testified in opposition to the bill. Bonnie Petersen, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Brandy DeLange, representing the Colorado Municipal League, testified in opposition to the bill unless amended. 04:49:57 PM Stan Dempsey, representing the Colorado Mining Association (CMA), testified in opposition to the bill. Bill Skewes, representing the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill. Dianna Orf, representing CMA, testified in opposition to the bill. Robert VanGorder, representing Wagner Equipment Company, testified in opposition to the bill. 05:00:29 PM The witness panel responded to questions from the committee. 05:07:50 PM Gini Pingenot, representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified about the bill. Sophia San Miguel, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. 05:08:56 PM Patrick Boyle, representing the Colorado Competitive Council, testified in opposition to the bill. David Long, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Jarrett Caddy, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Kevin Copeland, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. 05:25:13 PM Senator Hansen distributed and described Amendments L.001 and L.002 (Attachments F and G). 05:26:54 PM Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment F). Moved Pettersen Seconded Foote Hisey Scott Pettersen Winter YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection 05:27:17 PM Motion Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment G). Moved Pettersen Seconded Foote Hisey Scott Pettersen Winter YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection 05:27:38 PM The bill sponsors made closing remarks. 05:31:52 PM Committee members made closing remarks. 05:41:55 PM Motion Refer Senate Bill 20-168, as amended, to the Committee on Finance. Moved Pettersen Seconded Foote Yes Hisey No Scott No Pettersen Yes Winter Yes Final YES: 3 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS