The Colorado Chamber Energy & Environment Council met on Wednesday to take positions on introduced legislation, discuss policy strategy and hear from guest speakers.
The group was joined by Rebecca White, director of the Public Utilities Commission, and Matthew Gorenc, director of Legislative Affairs for DORA, who provided an overview of the bill implementing the Public Utilities Commission sunset. Members then inquired about specific sunset recommendations and potential changes to the commission.
Energy and Environment Council Positions:
HB 1272: Oppose as Introduced
The bill would require the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to collect data on temperature related injuries in the workplace and to develop model temperature related injury and illness prevention plans (TRIIPs). It then requires employers to develop and submit their own TRIIP to the state. The Energy & Environment Council voted to oppose the bill as introduced due to the redundant mandates for employers already in compliance with existing requirements mitigating temperature risk.
HB 1326: Amend
The bill would implement the recommendations of the Department of Regulatory Agencies in its 2025 sunset review of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The Energy & Environment Council took an amend position to ensure that the bill focuses on improvements to the PUC and does not create overreaching regulations for business.
HB 1226: Oppose
This proposal would require utilities operating power-producing units that were federally ordered to remain open to file detailed periodic reports with the Public Utilities Commission every 90 days. It also sets requirements for the amount of energy a utility must produce to retire a power-producing unit. The Chamber is opposed to the bill because it sets costly requirements for utilities that would impede progress toward clean energy goals.