SB 26-182

Senate Bill 26-182 updates Colorado's Clean Energy Plan for municipally owned utilities, allowing these entities more flexibility if they face challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from their electricity sales by 2030. The bill lets such utilities submit an updated plan to the Department of Public Health and Environment by December 31, 2026, aiming for emission reductions as soon as possible after 2029 but no later than 2032. It also requires these utilities to stop burning coal by the end of 2032 and provide annual reports on their progress. The bill has been signed into law, meaning municipally owned utilities in Colorado now have a clearer path for meeting clean energy goals with extended deadlines if needed.

Official Summary

Current law requires certain entities to file, or allows certain entities to voluntarily file, a clean energy plan to achieve an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the entity's electricity sales in Colorado by 2030, relative to 2005 levels (2030 emission reductions).      The bill repeals current law stating that clean energy plans submitted by a cooperative electric association or a municipally owned utility under certain circumstances are deemed approved by the public utilities commission (commission) and requiring the division of administration in the department of public health and environment (division) to consult with the commission in verifying a clean energy plan submitted by a cooperative electric association or a municipally owned utility. The bill also repeals current law stating that voluntary submission of a clean energy plan by a cooperative electric association or a municipally owned utility does not alter the entity's regulatory status with respect to the commission.      A municipally owned utility that has encountered challenges in achieving the 2030 emission reductions may submit to the division, of administration in the department of public health and environment (division), no later than December 31, 2026, an updated clean energy plan that demonstrates achievement of the 2030 emission reductions by the earliest date possible on or after December 31, 2029, but no later than December 31, 2032.     A municipally owned utility that submits an updated clean energy plan to the division must:Provide a detailed generation and transmission plan to the division with the updated clean energy plan;Provide an annual report to the division beginning January 1, 2028, and continuing each year until December 31, 2033, that contains certain information related to the updated clean energy plan;Cease burning coal by December 31, 2032; andSeek to achieve certain additional reductions in greenhouse gas emissions without impairing the municipally owned utility's ability to maintain certain electric reliability standards.     The updated clean energy plan must be verified by the division. and the municipally owned utility must pay all costs for the verification.(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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