Colorado Legislative & Regulatory Policy
Want to get more involved in legislative or regulatory policy?
Drop an email to Stefanie Bednar at sbednar@cossa.co.
COSSA’s 2023 Legislative Session Accomplishments:
Despite intentions to leave energy issues alone this legislative session after busy sessions in 2019 and 2021, legislators unexpectedly tackled a large slate of energy bills this winter. COSSA was at the ready, monitoring the introduction of new bills and active in negotiations as policy unfolded.
Policy Work Ahead in 2023 by Sector:
Utility-Scale
- Advocate for independent power producer interests as two utilities proceed with large acquisitions of renewable energy in electric resource plans;
- Argue for expanded transmission access to the solar-rich San Luis Valley region; Monitor regional wholesale market developments and engage as needed to advocate for industry interests; and
- Represent industry before county and local permitting authorities to ensure reasonable land use practices and solar and storage permitting.
Rooftop and Distributed Solar
- Support transparent rate design in Xcel’s phase II rate case that sends accurate price signals to customers and sets appropriate time-of-use peak windows;
- Ensure Xcel’s 2022-25 Renewable Energy Standard Compliance Plan is implemented in the spirit of the settlement agreement, including a sound pay-for-performance battery pilot, and a first-ever off-site net metering offering;
- Design a performance incentive mechanism for utility interconnections that advances fair business practices and aligns financial incentives;
- Ensure state law and new net metering legislation is implemented fairly and accurately as the state revises Renewable Energy Standard regulation;
- Establish common sense rules for individually metered multi-unit net metering; and
- Continue to support the fair and transparent implementation of Xcel’s first-ever distribution system plan, including the launch of two non-wires alternative solicitations.
Community Solar Gardens
- Design a performance incentive mechanism for utility interconnections that advances fair business practices, aligns financial incentives, and establishes a cluster study process for CSGs;
- Ensure Xcel’s 2022-25 Renewable Energy Standard Compliance Plan is implemented in the spirit of the settlement agreement, including CSG programmatic changes and a PUC “check-in” mid-program; and
- Advocate for reasonable interconnection and curtailment practices for community solar gardens in an anticipated 2023 rulemaking.
Key Solar and Storage State Laws
- HB23-1234: Streamlined Solar Permitting (SolarApp+ funding)
- SB23-016: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions (and interconnection penalties)
- SB23-291: Utility Regulation
- SB23-292: Labor Requirements for Energy Sector Construction
- HB21-1284: Fair Permitting Act Update
- SB21-261: PUC Encourage Renewable Distributed Generation
- HB19-1003: Community Solar Gardens Modernization Act
- SB19-236: Sunset Public Utilities Commission
- HB19-1261: Climate Action Plan to Reduce Pollution
- SB13-252: Renewable Energy Standard Retail Wholesale Methane
- HB11-1199: Fair Permit Act
- HB10-1342: Community Solar Gardens
- HB10-1001: Renewable Energy Standard 30% by 2020
- SB09-51: Renewable Energy Financing Act (Net metering and 3rd party financing)
- HB07-1281: Renewable Energy Standard for Co-op Utilities
Help us help you
All this advocacy work takes time and money. Please help us defend and further your interests before the legislature and the Public Utilities Commission.
See Stefanie Bednar for membership opportunities or to learn more about our policy committees.
COSSA Policy and Legislative Press Releases