S_TRA_2025A 01/16/2025 11:31:59 AM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
JOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON JOINT SENATE TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY AND HOUSE ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Date

01/16/2025

Attendance
Barron	X
Brown	X
Camacho	X
Catlin	*
Cutter	X
DeGraaf	*
Exum	X
Gonzalez R.	X
Hinrichsen	E
Joseph	X
Mullica	*
Paschal	X
Pelton B.	X
Rutinel	X
Simpson	X
Sullivan	X
Velasco	X
Willford	X
Woog	X
Valdez	X
Winter F.	X

Time

11:31:59 AM to 05:02:33 PM

Place

Old Supreme Court

This Meeting was called to order by

Valdez

This Report was prepared by

Samantha Falco

Hearing Items	Action Taken
hCall to Order and Introductions	Committee Discussion Only
hJoint Budget Committee Presentation to Joint Rule 25 (d)	Committee Discussion Only
hColorado Public Utilities Commission SMART Act Presentation	Committee Discussion Only
hColorado Energy Office SMART Act Presentation	Committee Discussion Only
hColorado Department of Natural Resources: Energy and Carbon Management Commission SMART Act Presentation	Committee Discussion Only
hEnergy and Carbon Management Commission and the Division of Water Resources: Geothermal Regulatory Study Presentation	Committee Discussion Only
hColorado Department of Public Health and Environment SMART Act Presentation	Committee Discussion Only
hColorado Electric Transmission Authority: Transmission Capacity Expansion Study Presentation	Committee Discussion Only
hPublic Testimony	Committee Discussion Only

Call to Order and Introductions - Committee Discussion Only


	11:32:22 AM	Chair Valdez gave opening comments. All presentations and other materials provided to the committee can be found on the following webpage: https://leg.colorado.gov/content/hene2025asmartact

Joint Budget Committee Presentation to Joint Rule 25 (d) - Committee Discussion Only


	11:32:58 AM	Representative Bird gave opening comments to the committees. Representative Sirota continued with the presentation from the Joint Budget Committee (JBC). All information the JBC referred to can be found in the following document: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/fy25-26brfsum-12-30-24.pdf
	11:34:24 AM	The JBC provided an overview for the budget requests submitted to the JBC by the Colorado Energy Office (CEO); Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC); Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE); and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
	11:43:10 AM	The committee asked a question regarding the CDPHE requests. Senator Kirkmeyer added a few comments on behalf of the JBC regarding the General Fund operating budget. Representatives Bird and Taggart gave closing comments on behalf of the JBC.

Colorado Public Utilities Commission SMART Act Presentation - Committee Discussion Only


	11:50:07 AM	Rebecca White, Director of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and Matt Gorenc, Legislative Director, Department of Regulatory Agencies, gave an overview of the PUC to the joint committees. The presentation can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/puc_smart_act_hearing_slides_2025.pdf
	11:52:07 AM	Director White provided information on the organization of the PUC; the PUC not making any budget or legislation requests for the year; areas of focus for the commission; Senate Bill 23-291 Energy Affordability; the commission's goals; Utility Bill Help Pilot Program; consumer protection efforts; pipeline safety; rail safety; equity and environmental justice; and the regulatory agenda.
	12:10:32 PM	The committee asked a number of questions regarding topics such as "peak times" for energy consumption; the portal for energy efficiency programs; and prudence review of energy prices. Erin O'Neil, Deputy Director Fixed Utilities-PUC, joined the panel to answer questions.
	12:22:45 PM	Questions from the committee resumed regarding topics such as customer cost increases; equity concerns of the PUC; cause for the decrease of costs; subsidies used; infrastructure costs to consumers; Senate Bill 21-108 and public availability to pipeline maps; and pipeline safety penalties.

Colorado Energy Office SMART Act Presentation - Committee Discussion Only


	12:55:28 PM	Will Toor, Director, and Dominique Gomez, Deputy Director, of the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) gave the following presentation to the committee: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/ceo_smart_act_slides...
	12:56:20 PM	The presentation included information on the organizational chart; goals of the CEO; performance management; Greenhouse Gase (GHG) Roadmap 2.0; zero emission vehicle registration; building emissions reduction; budget and legislative requests; and major climate accomplishments.
	01:13:19 PM	The committees asked questions regarding Senate Bill 24-212; upcoming legislation; renewable development; the inclusion of natural gas in the GHG Roadmap 2.0; and electric vehicles and tax credits being extended to hybrid vehicles.

Colorado Department of Natural Resources: Energy and Carbon Management Commission SMART Act Presentation - Committee Discussion Only


	01:53:10 PM	Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Julie Murphy, Director, Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) gave the following presentation to the committee: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/dnr-ecmc_presentation.pdf
	01:58:43 PM	The presentation included information regarding the agency's organization; goals of the agency; budget and legislation requests; the ECMC regulatory agenda; the structure of the ECMC; and implications of Senate Bill 19-181. Ms. Murphy discussed the ECMC studies pursuant to Senate Bill 23-016 and Senate Bill 23-285: Hydrogen Storage and Transport Regulation Study, Pipeline Safety and Siting Study, and Geothermal Regulatory Study.
	02:21:57 PM	The presentation continued with information on recent rulemaking; the orphan wells mitigation enterprise; and an investigation into data falsification.
	02:27:48 PM	The committees asked a number of questions regarding topics including the consequences of the falsified data; Senate Bill 24-212 and community implementations; efforts for a reduction in spending; cumulative impact reports; the orphan well program; the financial assurance rules passed by the ECMC; and carbon sequestration.

Energy and Carbon Management Commission and the Division of Water Resources: Geothermal Regulatory Study Presentation - Committee Discussion Only


	02:44:48 PM	Mike Rigby, ECMC Programs Coordinator, gave the following presentation to the committee: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/geothermal_regualtory_study_-_dnr_slides.pdf
	02:46:23 PM	The presentation provided an overview of the Geothermal Technical Resource Study created by Senate Bill 23-285, including information on what topics were covered, stakeholding that was completed, and recommendations that resulted from the study.
	02:58:56 PM	The committees asked questions regarding the geothermal footprint per megawatt hour.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment SMART Act Presentation - Committee Discussion Only


	03:02:25 PM	Jill Hunsaker-Ryan, Executive Director, Michael Ogleree, Senior Director of State Air Quality Programs, Erick Scheminske, Chief Operating Officer, Lindsay Ellis, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs, and Tracie White, Director of Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division, gave the following presentation to the committee on behalf of the Colorado Department of Publich Health and Environment (CDPHE): https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/cdphe_smart_act_hearing_slides_2025.pdf
	03:10:35 PM	The presentation included information on the department structure; strategic plan priorities and goals; statewide greenhouse gas emissions goals and accomplishments; and how Colorado compares to other states.
	03:25:11 PM	The presentation continued with the department's budget and legislative requests; a stimulus implementation update; the department's regulatory agenda; and the following often-requested topics: Suncor, ozone standards, and strategies. Ms. White presented on the extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for paper and packaging and proper disposal of batteries.
	03:53:11 PM	The committee asked a number of questions regarding topics such as impacts of disproportionately impacted communities and about the issues at the water testing lab. Dr. Ned Calonge and Nicole Rowan with CDPHE joined the panel to answer questions about suspending testing of the water quality lab.
	03:59:19 PM	Questions continued with topics such as Title V facilities and emissions monitoring; impacts of ozone precursors from other countries; the improvement of health in Colorado; and improved health outcomes of children.

Colorado Electric Transmission Authority: Transmission Capacity Expansion Study Presentation - Committee Discussion Only


	04:24:10 PM	Kathleen Staks, Colorado Electric Transmission Authority (CETA) Board Chair, Roger Freeman, CETA Planning Committee, and Keegan Moyer, Energy Strategies gave the following presentation to the committee: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/ceta_transmission_study_briefing_slides.pdf
	04:28:45 PM	The presentation included information on the Transmission Capacity Expansion Study and its stakeholder process, outcomes of the study, Colorado's need for additional transmission capacity, transmission investment over 20 years, and the projected investment the state will need.
	04:38:55 PM	The committee asked questions including topics such as the prioritization of addressing transmission needs, the study accounting for developing technology and needs, and the effect of solar flares on transmission lines.

Public Testimony - Committee Discussion Only


	04:46:57 PM	Leslie Glustrum, representing Clean Energy Action, testified to the committee. Justin Mabie, representing themself, testified to the committee.
	04:54:40 PM	The committee asked the panel of witnesses questions.

05:02:33 PM

The committee adjourned.