HB 22-1104

HB 22-1104, also known as the Powerline Trails Act, allows companies that manage electricity transmission lines to work with local governments and private landowners to create public hiking trails alongside these power lines. This bill aims to promote recreational activities while ensuring that any new trails are designed in a way that protects wildlife and respects rural areas' unique characteristics. The governor has signed this bill into law, meaning it is now active legislation in Colorado. This means companies managing transmission lines must also consider creating or maintaining hiking trails when planning their infrastructure projects, and they need to provide information about these opportunities to local communities.

Official Summary

The act: Allows transmission providers to enter into contracts with public entities or private landowners to construct and maintain public recreational trails (powerline trails) covering a tract of land where transmission lines are or will be constructed (transmission corridor); Requires a public entity to coordinate with the division of parks and wildlife in the design and construction of a powerline trail to minimize adverse impacts to state and federally listed species and species and habitats of conservation concern; Requires a public entity to consider any issues unique to an area of significant rural character prior to constructing a powerline trail in the area; Requires transmission providers to develop and maintain informational resources to encourage the construction of new powerline trails; Requires a transmission provider, when siting or expanding a transmission line, to notify local governments of the potential for a powerline trail in the associated transmission corridor; Requires a transmission provider, when applying for a permit with a local government to develop in an area of state interest, to demonstrate compliance with the requirement to notify local governments of the potential for a powerline trail and to develop and maintain informational resources encouraging construction of new powerline trails; Requires the public utilities commission to amend its rules to also require electric public utilities in the state to consider plans for the construction of new powerline trails and with the requirement to develop and maintain informational resources on powerline trails; Requires the Colorado electric transmission authority (CETA) to arrange for the continuation of any existing powerline trail contracts before entering into a project or divesting a facility; and Requires the CETA to give priority for project solicitations to electric utilities and other entities that demonstrate an interest in continuing or creating a powerline trail.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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