HB 22-1249

HB 22-1249, known as the Electric Grid Resilience and Reliability Roadmap, is a Colorado law that requires state agencies to create a plan for improving the reliability of the electric grid by using microgrids. Microgrids are smaller power grids that can operate independently from the main electrical network during outages or when extending traditional infrastructure isn't feasible. The bill involves public input through meetings and aims to identify which areas, like critical facilities and high-risk communities, should prioritize these projects. It also suggests changes in laws or regulations needed to support microgrid development. The plan must be completed by July 1, 2024, and reviewed every five years for updates. Since the bill has been signed into law, it is now active and state agencies are working on developing this roadmap with input from various stakeholders across Colorado.

Official Summary

The act requires the Colorado energy office (office), in collaboration with the department of local affairs (department) and the Colorado resiliency office (resiliency office), to develop a grid resilience and reliability roadmap (roadmap) for improving the resilience and reliability of electric grids in the state (grid), which roadmap must include guidance on how microgrids may be used to harden the grid, improve grid resilience and reliability, deliver electricity where extending distribution infrastructure may not be practicable, and operate autonomously and independent of the grid, when necessary. In developing the roadmap, the office, department, and resiliency office are required to engage interested persons throughout the state in stakeholder meetings and consider stakeholder input. The roadmap may identify: The potential benefits of developing microgrids, including whether and how developing microgrids improves grid resilience and reliability; The critical facilities and infrastructure and the high-risk communities that should be prioritized for microgrid projects (projects); and Recommendations regarding potential legislative or administrative changes needed to help facilitate projects, including needed statutory or rule changes, key factors to consider regarding the safety, development, maintenance, and deployment of microgrids, metrics for evaluating the costs and benefits of microgrids, financial and technical support for microgrid deployment, and education and outreach programs, including apprenticeship programs. The office is required to post a draft of the roadmap on its website on or before July 1, 2024, and the office and department are required to post the completed roadmap on their websites. The office is also required to submit a copy of the roadmap to the public utilities commission (commission), and, on or before March 1, 2025, in collaboration with the department, present the roadmap to the legislative committees of reference with jurisdiction over energy matters. On a periodic basis at least every 5 years, the office, department, and resiliency office are required to review the roadmap and, if necessary, update it. If the roadmap is updated, it must be posted on the office's and department's websites and submitted to the commission and the legislative committees of reference with jurisdiction over energy matters. For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, $22,470 is appropriated from the general fund to the office of the governor for use by the Colorado energy office to develop the roadmap. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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