SB 18-246

Senate Bill 18-246 modifies and repeals parts of a previous law (S.B. 13-252) related to renewable energy standards in Colorado. It reduces the requirement for large cooperative electric associations to generate 20% of their power from renewable sources back down to 10%, removes certain types of synthetic gas as eligible renewable resources, and reinstates a formula that speeds up solar project development. The bill also lowers the maximum retail rate impact allowed due to compliance with these standards from 2% to 1%. This bill has been signed into law, meaning its changes are now in effect for electric associations and energy providers in Colorado.

Official Summary

The bill modifies and repeals selected provisions of recent legislation (S.B. 13-252) in the following areas: S.B. 13-252's increase in the renewable portfolio standard for cooperative electric associations serving 100,000 or more meters, which for 2020 had been increased from 10% to 20%, returns to 10%; S.B. 13-252's expansion of the definition of 'eligible energy resources' is curtailed by eliminating synthetic gas produced by pyrolysis of municipal waste, but the inclusion of coal mine methane is retained, subject to a determination by the public utilities commission that the coal mine methane is greenhouse gas neutral, and large and preexisting hydroelectric generation facilities are added; A multiplier in the formula for calculation of renewable energy credits used to accelerate the construction of new solar generation, which expired in 2015 under S.B. 13-252, is reinstated; The maximum permissible retail rate impact of compliance with the standards, which S.B. 13-252 increased from 1% to 2% for cooperative electric associations, returns to 1%; S.B. 13-252's additional carve-outs for distributed generation are eliminated; and Reporting requirements and portfolio standards for cooperative electric associations that sell electricity wholesale (qualifying wholesale utilities) are eliminated.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More