Thread by @WillToor

End of legislative session tweetstorm time: and there’s LOTS to talk about. This was a historic session, with huge progress on climate and implementing @GovofCO GHG Roadmap. Overview first, then details on a few coming later… (1/n)

Building decarb, transpo electrification, climate friendly transportation planning, land use incentives, environmental justice, oil/gas emissions rules, industrial emission rules, timelines for electric clean energy plans, just transition funding and more....(2/n)

Buildings:all 2021 priorities in Roadmap were adopted.
- Clean Heat Standards for gas utilities-reduce GHG 22% by 2030, 90% by 2050
-Building electrification incentives
-Expanded gas utility DSM
-Energy/emissions standards for big buildings
-Clean energy finance/green bank 3/n

SB 264, clean heat plans: leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-264
SB 246, beneficial electrification: leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-246
HB 1238, gas DSM: leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1238
HB 1286, building energy performance: leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1238
SB 230, clean energy finance: leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-230
(4/n)

This is nationally leading buildings policy. New requirements to hit GHG targets –multiple tools to get there. Roadmap also highlighted need for advanced building codes for new construction – so we didn’t get it all done this year!
(5/n)

Thanks to all the sponsors: @HansenForCO @TraceyBernett @FaithWinterCO @ValdezforCO @KevinPriola @pettersen4co @Cathy_Kipp @SteveFenberg @RepMegFroe and a special shoutout to @HansenForCO and @TraceyBernett for their tireless work on multiple buildings bills!
(6/n)

Another big one: transportation electrification as part of SB 260: leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-260
-$730 million investment in EV charging, + electric trucks, buses, eBikes, TNCs
-Fees on TNCs that incentivize multipassenger trips and EVs
(7/n)

Transportation planning
-Makes achieving GHG targets a goal of CDOT planning process
-Requires CDOT and MPOs to implement new GHG budgets being adopted by state air commission
-Requires modeling of induced demand
-CDOT shall encourage land use decisions to reduce VMT/GHG
(8/n)

Shoutout to sponsors of SB 260: @SteveFenberg @AlecGarnett @matthewogray @FaithWinterCO
(9/n)

Better land use:incentives for local govs (through access to $ and new authority for rental inclusionary zoning) to
-Allow duplexes and triplexes by-right
-Allow ADUs by right
-Lift occupancy restrictions
HB 1271: leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1271
HB 1117: leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1117
(10/n)

Environmental Justice-elements in multiple bills
-EJ ombudsperson + advisory board at CDPHE
-Direct enviro fine $ to mitigation in EJ communities
-New EJ office at CDOT
-Enhanced attention to EJ in PUC decisions
-Minimum 25% funding from BE, DSM for low income residents
(11/n)

EJ continued:
- $26 million/yr for low income energy assistance/weatherization HB 1105: leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1105 (thanks @Kennedy4CO @HansenForCO @KevinPriola )
- Funding for ligh/heavy duty charging infrastructure and for upgrading to EVs and eBikes in low income communities 12/n

The next few tweets are all about elements of HB 1266, focused on environmental justice and climate action: leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1266
Already flagged key EJ elements above.
Thanks to sponsors @FaithWinterCO @SenJanetBuckner @mjweissman @Jackson4CO
(13/n)

Oil/gas - adds statutory requirement to meet Roadmap targets
-Requires AQCC to adopt rules that reduce GHG emissions at least 60% by 2030 (this was already underway, but adds statutory backing)
-Requires additional rules if actual emissions are higher than projected
(14/n)

Industry- statutory requirement to meet Roadmap targets
-Requires AQCC to adopt rules to achieve 20% GHG reduction by 2030
-Requires additional rules if actual emissions are higher than projected
(15/n)

GHG fees
-AQCC rulemaking to create small GHG fees on large emitters
-Not a carbon fee/tax to fund mitigation; intent is small fee to fund the work of the climate team at the air division, give enough capacity for regulation and enforcement
(16/n)

HB 1266 also modernizes the mission of the Colorado Energy Office, making it clear as part of all of government efforts on climate change that reducing GHG pollution is central to our mission. And adds timelines for clean energy plans at PUC/AQCC.
(17/n)

Social Cost of Carbon(in multiple bills)-
-Establishes use of SCC in gas/electric utility regulation, transportation, air regulation
-Specifies SCC based on discount rate no greater than 2.5%; must be based on latest federal #,but no lower than 2016 interagency work group #
18/n

General utility issues (SB 20,72, 262)
-Adequately funds PUC work to implement all these bills!
-Push towards more transmission, organized regional markets
-Favorable property tax treatment for energy storage
(19/n)

Distributed generation (HB 1284, SB 020,SB 261)
-Limit permit fees for solar
- Remove existing 120% cap on the size of net metered solar systems
(20/n)

Embodied emissions (HB 1303)
- Requires state to set standards for embodied emissions for construction materials in state public projects
- Starts tracking embodied emissions for transportation materials to set stage for future standards
(21/n)

Funding for Just Transition (HB 1290: leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1290)
-Provides $15 million to jumpstart just transition programs
- Part of state's commitment to not leave behind the workers and communities that have powered our state in the past
(22/n)

Thanks to the sponsors: @Dlesgar @SteveFenberg @PerryWillHD57 and Senator Rankin
(23/n)

Also related to just transition: HB 1234 leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1324 makes it easier for utilities to invest in innovative zero emissions firm generation in just transition communities.
(24/n)

Multiple bills commit to focus on high road, good paying jobs as we implement programs that invest utility ratepayer funding in clean energy. We know that the transition to clean energy and climate action has to be affordable for consumers + create good jobs.
(25/25)

@drvolts @leahstokes @CostaSamaras @COEnergyOffice @samuelbrasch @dcwoodruff @ByMarkJaffe @mboothdenver @MountainTownNew

A few more to mention:
SB 293 reduced the property tax rate for renewable energy property; SB 231 allocated stimulus $ to weatherization; HB 1253 allocated stimulus to local gov clean energy grants; SB 235 allocates stimulus to agricultural energy efficiency + renewables (1/2)

HB 1149 creates pathways through community colleges for clean energy careers; HB 1260 studies CCE; HB 1141 creates an EV license plate (2/2)

@bstorrow @CanaryMediaInc @robbieorvis

And another: SB 103, which extended the Office of Consumer Counsel, adds state decarbonization goals, environmental justice, and just transition to their statute - so OCC will focus on how to protect consumer interests WHILE achieving these broader state goals.