Colorado Code § 25-7-105

Duties of commission - technical secretary - rules - report - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal
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(1) Except as provided in sections 25-7-130 and 25-7-131,
the commission shall promulgate rules that are consistent with the legislative declaration set
forth in section 25-7-102 and necessary for the proper implementation and administration of this
article 7, including:
(a) (I) A comprehensive state implementation plan which will assure attainment and
maintenance of national ambient air quality standards and which will prevent significant
deterioration of air quality, all in conformity with the provisions of this article. The
comprehensive plan shall meet all requirements of the federal act and shall be revised whenever
necessary or appropriate.
(II) The comprehensive state implementation plan of the commission shall, wherever
feasible, include local or regional air pollution plans and programs adopted or enforceable by
municipal or county governments. Before making any changes to those portions of the state
implementation plan which include such air pollution plans and programs or to such plans and
programs which are suggested for inclusion in the state implementation plan, the commission
shall give thirty days' notice of the proposed changes to the affected municipal or county
government to allow a reasonable opportunity to prepare comments on the proposed changes.
The commission shall consider such comments in its action on the state implementation plan and
shall document in the record of the hearing its reasons for any changes to such plans and
programs. Any such plans and programs which are approved by the commission and formally
submitted as a part of the state implementation plan shall be deemed a part of the comprehensive
program of the commission and shall be enforced as such.
(III) The revisions to the Denver element of the PM-10 state implementation plan
adopted by the commission on February 16, 1995, which contain a sixty tons-per-day PM-10
mobile source emissions budget which expires January 1, 1998, and reverts to a forty-four tons-
per-day budget, are amended to provide that such forty-four tons-per-day reversion shall not be a
part of the state implementation plan and shall only apply as a regulation adopted exclusively
under reserved state authority pursuant to the provisions of section 25-7-105.1. The sixty tons-
per-day emissions budget shall, unless modified by the commission through rule-making, apply
for federal transportation conformity and is included in the state implementation plan only as
required by the federal act. Any entity with authority to adopt a transportation plan required
under section 43-1-1103, C.R.S., shall consider any mobile source emissions budgets in effect
under this article in the development of transportation improvement programs for federal
purposes.
(IV) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 25-7-133, the expiration of the state
implementation plan for ozone maintenance and related rules of the air quality control
commission, and the amendments to commission regulations numbers 3 and 7, which state
implementation plan and rules, and amendments to regulations numbers 3 and 7, were adopted
or amended by the commission on March 21, 1996, and which are therefore scheduled for
expiration May 15, 1997, is postponed until December 31, 2005.
(b) Emission control regulations in conformity with section 25-7-109;
(c) A prevention of significant deterioration program in conformity with part 2 of this
article and federal requirements; except that definitions used in the program shall not differ from
any definitions pertaining to the prevention of significant deterioration program which appear in
section 169 of the federal act or in federal regulations promulgated thereunder, and an attainment
program in conformity with part 3 of this article;
(d) A satisfactory process of consultation with general purpose local governments and
any federal land manager having authority over federal land to which the state implementation
plan applies, effective with respect to measures adopted after August 7, 1978, pertaining to
transportation controls, air quality maintenance plan requirements, preconstruction review of
stationary sources of air pollution, or any measure referred to in the prevention of significant
deterioration program established pursuant to part 2 of this article or the attainment program
established pursuant to part 3 of this article, or granting delayed compliance orders pursuant to
section 25-7-118;
(d.5) Additional permitting requirements for sources that affect disproportionately
impacted communities in conformity with section 25-7-114.4 (5);
(e) (I) Statewide greenhouse gas pollution abatement. As the commission adopts rules
pursuant to this subsection (1)(e), it shall pursue near-term reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions as part of the effort to reduce total cumulative emissions over time.
(II) Consistent with section 25-7-102 (2)(g), the commission shall timely promulgate
implementing rules and regulations. The implementing rules may take into account other
relevant laws and rules, as well as voluntary actions taken by local communities and the private
sector, to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness and shall be revised as necessary over time
to ensure timely progress toward the 2025, 2030, 2035, 2040, 2045, and 2050 goals. The
implementing rules must provide for ongoing tracking of emission sources that adversely affect
disproportionately impacted communities and are subject to rules implemented pursuant to this
subsection (1)(e) and must include strategies designed to achieve reductions in harmful air
pollution affecting those communities.
(III) The commission will identify and engage with disproportionately impacted
communities as specified in section 24-4-109.
(IV) The division, at the direction of the commission, shall solicit input from other state
agencies, stakeholders, and the public on the advantages of different statewide greenhouse gas
pollution mitigation measures, specifically soliciting input from those most impacted by climate
change, including disproportionately impacted communities; large emission sources; workers in
relevant industries, including advanced energy and fuel delivery; and communities that are
currently economically dependent on industries with high levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
(V) The implementing rules and policies may include, in addition to renewable energy
development strategies, regulatory strategies that have been deployed by another jurisdiction to
reduce multi-sector greenhouse gas emissions, that facilitate adoption of technologies that have
very low or zero emissions, and that enhance cost-effectiveness, compliance flexibility, and
transparency around compliance costs, among other regulatory strategies. The commission may
coordinate with other jurisdictions in securing emission reductions, including in satisfying future
federal regulations. The commission may account for reductions in net greenhouse gas emissions
that occur under coordinated jurisdictions' programs if the commission finds that the
implementing regulations of each coordinated jurisdiction are of sufficient rigor to ensure the
integrity of the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere and may account for
carbon dioxide that electricity consumption in this state causes to be emitted elsewhere.
(VI) In carrying out its responsibilities under this subsection (1)(e), the commission shall
consider: The benefits of compliance, including health, environmental, and air quality; the costs
of compliance; economic and job impacts and opportunities; the time necessary for compliance;
the relative contribution of each source or source category to statewide greenhouse gas pollution
based on current data updated at reasonable intervals as determined by the commission;
harmonizing emission reporting requirements with existing federal requirements, where the
commission deems appropriate; the importance of striving to equitably distribute the benefits of
compliance, opportunities to incentivize renewable energy resources and pollution abatement
opportunities in disproportionately impacted communities, opportunities to encourage clean
energy in transitioning communities; issues related to the beneficial use of electricity to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions; whether program design could enhance the reliability of electric
service; the potential to enhance the resilience of Colorado's communities and natural resources
to climate impacts; and whether greater or more cost-effective emission reductions are available
through program design.
(VII) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the division, at the direction of the
commission, shall report to the general assembly every odd-numbered year after May 30, 2019,
regarding: Progress toward the goals set forth in section 25-7-102 (2)(g); any newly available,
final cost-benefit or regulatory analysis, developed under section 24-4-103 (2.5) or (4.5), for
rules adopted to attain the goals; recommendations on future commission rules or policies to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions sufficient to achieve the goals set forth in section 25-7-102
(2)(g); and any recommendations on future legislative action to address climate change,
including implementation of climate adaptation policies or accelerating deployment of cleaner
technologies. The division shall make its proposed report available for public review prior to
presentation to the general assembly. Beginning with the report in 2023, if the report indicates
that emission reductions required by subsections (1)(e)(XII) and (1)(e)(XIII) of this section are
not being met, the division shall develop and propose additional requirements to the commission,
no later than six months from the submission of the report to the general assembly, which
requirements must address any shortfall between the emission reductions achieved and the
emission reductions necessary to meet the requirements of subsections (1)(e)(XII) and
(1)(e)(XIII) of this section. In even-numbered years when a report is not made pursuant to this
subsection (1)(e)(VII), the division shall provide an update to the commission on progress
toward the emission reduction requirements in subsections (1)(e)(XII) and (1)(e)(XIII) of this
section based on annual data reported to the division.
(VIII) (A) In carrying out its responsibilities under this subsection (1)(e), the
commission shall consult with the public utilities commission, including on issues of cost of
electricity, reliability of electric service, technology developments in electricity production, and
beneficial electrification, and keep a record of its consultation.
(B) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that it is beneficial to
encourage the development of clean energy plans that will require greenhouse gas emissions
caused by Colorado retail electricity sales to decrease eighty percent by 2030 relative to 2005
levels to provide for the cost-effective and proactive deployment of clean energy resources.
(C) In designing, implementing, and enforcing programs and requirements under this
subsection (1)(e), the commission and the division shall take into consideration any clean energy
plan at the public utilities commission that, as filed, will achieve at least an eighty percent
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the utility's Colorado retail electricity sales by
2030 relative to 2005 levels, as verified by the division. When including public utilities in its
programs or requirements under this subsection (1)(e), the commission shall not mandate that a
public utility reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by the utility's Colorado retail electricity
sales by 2030 more than is required under such an approved clean energy plan or impose any
direct, nonadministrative cost on the public utility directly associated with quantities of
greenhouse gas emissions caused by the utility's Colorado retail electricity sales that remain after
the reductions required by such a clean energy plan through 2030 if those reductions are
achieved and the division has verified that the approved clean energy plan will achieve at least a
seventy-five percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the utility's Colorado
retail electricity sales by 2030 relative to 2005 levels. This subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(C) applies to
any clean energy plan that is voluntarily submitted or is required to be submitted pursuant to law.
(D) Implementing rules developed by the commission must not include any
requirements dictating the mix of electric generating resources that any public utility shall use to
meet applicable pollution limits.
(E) Implementing rules developed by the commission must consider issues relating to
joint ownership of electric generating resources as between multiple parties and the extent to
which the public utility is relying on power purchased from third parties in meeting its
obligations under such a clean energy plan.
(F) A clean energy plan voluntarily filed by a cooperative electric association that has
voted to exempt itself from regulation by the public utilities commission pursuant to article 9.5
of title 40 or by a municipal utility shall be deemed approved by the public utilities commission
as filed if: The division, in consultation with the public utilities commission, publicly verifies
that the plan demonstrates that, by 2030, the cooperative electric association or municipal utility
will achieve at least an eighty percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the
entity's Colorado retail electricity sales relative to 2005 levels; and the clean energy plan has
previously been approved by a vote of the entity's governing body. Voluntary submission of a
clean energy plan by a cooperative electric association or municipal utility does not alter the
entity's regulatory status with respect to the public utilities commission, including under article
9.5 of title 40.
(G) The commission is encouraged to pursue programs and policies that are consistent
with this subsection (1)(e)(VIII) and that incentivize voluntary additional near-term greenhouse
gas reductions from electric utilities with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from
electric utilities by at least forty-eight percent by 2025 and eighty percent by 2030, including
emissions associated with imported electricity, as compared to a 2005 baseline and accelerating
near-term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to increase cumulative reductions from
electric utilities. Nothing in this subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(G) limits the authority of the public
utilities commission.
(H) In verifying clean energy plans or a wholesale generation and transmission
cooperative electric resource plan submitted in accordance with subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(I) of this
section, the division shall prevent double counting of emission reductions among utilities and
shall consider electricity generated by renewable energy resources as having zero greenhouse
gas emissions only if: The electricity is accompanied by any associated renewable energy credit,
and the renewable energy credit is retired on behalf of the utility's customers in the year
generated; or the electricity is generated by retail distributed generation, as defined in sections
40-2-124 (1)(a)(VIII), 40-2-127 (2)(b)(I)(A) and (2)(b)(I)(B), and 40-2-127.5 (2)(a)(I) and
(2)(a)(II), and the retail customer retains the renewable energy credit as part of a voluntary
renewable energy program.
(I) Each wholesale generation and transmission electric cooperative shall file with the
public utilities commission and the division an electric resource plan that will achieve at least an
eighty percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the cooperative's sales of
electricity to customers within Colorado by 2030, relative to 2005 levels.
(J) An electric utility that is not a qualifying retail utility as defined in section 40-2-125.5
(2)(c)(I) that is required to submit a clean energy plan or a wholesale generation and
transmission cooperative that is required to file an electric resource plan pursuant to this
subsection (1)(e) shall provide written notice to the division of intent to file a clean energy plan
by August 1, 2021. An investor-owned utility that has not already filed a clean energy plan and
that indicates an intent to file a clean energy plan shall file a clean energy plan with the public
utilities commission with its next resource plan filing. The division shall verify emission
reductions as part of the public utilities commission proceeding that reviews the resource plan. A
utility other than an investor-owned utility or a wholesale generation and transmission
cooperative utility that provided written notice of intent to file a voluntary clean energy plan
pursuant to this subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(J) shall provide all information the division deems
necessary to evaluate and verify the emission reductions claimed as part of a clean energy plan
no later than December 31, 2021. The division shall, in consultation with the public utilities
commission, fully evaluate and verify the clean energy plan. The utility must submit the verified
clean energy plan to the public utilities commission in accordance with section 40-2-125.5
(5)(g)(I) no later than July 1, 2022. The division may approve alternate data submission and
filing deadlines, to be no later than December 31, 2023, upon reviewing information supplied by
a utility in conjunction with the utility's written intention to file if the emission reduction
calculations are dependent on decisions of another utility subject to resource planning
requirements of the public utilities commission.
(VIII.1) This subsection (1)(e)(VIII.1) applies to any clean energy plan submitted to the
division on or after July 1, 2023, and does not apply to a clean energy plan submitted by a
qualifying retail utility pursuant to section 40-2-125.5 (4)(a) prior to July 1, 2023. Any entity
required to submit a clean energy plan pursuant to this section shall base the calculations of the
entity's 2005 baseline greenhouse gas emissions, estimated 2027 greenhouse gas emissions, and
estimated 2030 greenhouse gas emissions on:
(A) The greenhouse gas emissions from each resource that is used to supply electricity to
the entity's retail customers; and
(B) The greenhouse gas emissions from each resource that generates electricity and is
owned in whole or in part by the entity if the greenhouse gas emissions from that resource are
not otherwise required to be included in any other entity's clean energy plan or a plan submitted
pursuant to subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(I) of this section.
(VIII.2) As used in this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.2), "independently determined" means
that, in verifying a clean energy plan, the division makes independent judgment of the emissions
impact of the clean energy plan based on the information presented to the division by the
applicable entity, the public utilities commission, and any stakeholders. This subsection
(1)(e)(VIII.2) applies to verification by the division of any clean energy plan submitted to the
division on or after July 1, 2023. In verifying a clean energy plan, the division shall, in
consultation with the public utilities commission, independently confirm the accuracy of any
data supplied by an entity that has adopted a clean energy plan. The division, in consultation
with the public utilities commission, shall not verify a clean energy plan pursuant to this section
unless it has independently determined that the data used to verify the clean energy plan is
accurate and consistent with the clean energy plan adopted by the entity's governing body. In
making this independent determination, the division is not required to conduct its own modeling.
Prior to verifying a clean energy plan, the division shall:
(A) Subject to section 25-7-111 (4), make publicly available a copy of the clean energy
plan, any draft verification workbooks associated with the clean energy plan, and any other
materials the division relies upon in making its proposed verification of the clean energy plan;
(B) Unless the clean energy plan is submitted by a utility that has its resource planning
process regulated by the public utilities commission, including a clean energy plan submitted by
a qualifying retail utility pursuant to section 40-2-125.5 (4)(a): Hold at least one stakeholder
meeting regarding the proposed verification of the clean energy plan; accept written comments
from the public on the proposed verification of the clean energy plan; and draft and make
publicly available a written response to any written comments;
(C) In consultation with the public utilities commission, independently verify that the
entity has provided an accurate calculation of the entity's 2005 baseline greenhouse gas
emissions or independently calculate the entity's 2005 baseline greenhouse gas emissions; and
(D) In consultation with the public utilities commission, independently verify that the
entity has provided a reasonably accurate estimate of the entity's 2027 and 2030 greenhouse gas
emissions or independently calculate the entity's 2027 and 2030 greenhouse gas emissions.
(VIII.3) (A) No later than June 1, 2028, the division shall make the following calculation
and determination for each entity, including a wholesale power marketer, as defined in
subsection (1)(e)(VIII.7)(A) of this section, that is required to submit a clean energy plan and
does not have its electric resource planning process regulated by the public utilities commission:
Calculate the percentage of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by each entity's
Colorado electricity sales that the entity has achieved by December 31, 2027, relative to 2005
levels; and determine whether the entity has, by December 31, 2027, contracted for, acquired, or
commenced construction of the resources identified in the entity's clean energy plan necessary to
achieve at least an eighty percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the entity's
Colorado electricity sales by 2030 relative to 2005 levels. The division shall promptly inform
each entity that has submitted a clean energy plan of its final calculations and determination and
make the final calculations and determinations for each entity publicly available.
(B) Prior to making the calculations and determinations required by subsections
(1)(e)(VIII.3)(A) and (1)(e)(VIII.3)(D) of this section, the division shall: Subject to section 25-7-
111 (4), make the calculations and determinations and any data that the division relied on to
make the determinations and calculations publicly available; hold at least one stakeholder
meeting regarding the calculations and determinations; accept written comments from the public
regarding the calculations and determinations; and draft and make publicly available a written
response to any written comments.
(C) If the division determines that the entity has not contracted for, acquired, or
commenced construction of the resources described in subsection (1)(e)(VIII.3)(A) of this
section by December 31, 2027, no later than December 31, 2028, the entity shall submit a report
to the division identifying a specific mix of supply-side and demand-side resources that the
entity has procured or is in the process of procuring to enable the entity to achieve at least an
eighty percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the entity's Colorado electricity
sales by 2030 relative to 2005 levels.
(D) No later than April 30, 2029, if a report was submitted in accordance with subsection
(1)(e)(VIII.3)(C) of this section, the division shall review the report and make a determination
whether the entity has contracted for, acquired, or commenced construction of a sufficient mix of
supply-side and demand-side resources to enable the entity to achieve at least an eighty percent
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the entity's Colorado electricity sales by 2030
relative to 2005 levels. The division shall promptly inform each entity that has submitted a clean
energy plan of its determination and make the final determination for each entity publicly
available.
(E) If the entity does not submit the report required pursuant to subsection
(1)(e)(VIII.3)(C) of this section on or before December 31, 2028, or if the division determines
from the report that the entity has not contracted for, acquired, or commenced construction of a
sufficient mix of supply-side and demand-side resources to enable the entity to achieve at least
an eighty percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the entity's Colorado
electricity sales by 2030 relative to 2005 levels: The commission shall adopt rules that limit the
greenhouse gas emissions by the generating resources that supply electricity to the entity to
ensure that the entity achieves at least an eighty percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
caused by the entity's Colorado electricity sales by 2030 relative to 2005 levels; and the division
shall amend any operating permits for sources of greenhouse gas emissions as necessary to
ensure that the entity achieves at least an eighty percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
caused by the entity's Colorado electricity sales by 2030 relative to 2005 levels.
(F) The commission and division shall take all actions required pursuant to this
subsection (1)(e)(VIII.3) no later than December 31, 2029.
(VIII.4) (A) This subsection (1)(e)(VIII.4) applies to all entities that are not otherwise
required to submit a clean energy plan pursuant to this section or to submit a plan pursuant to
subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(I) of this section.
(B) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(e)(VIII.5)(A) of this section, if a utility's Colorado
electricity sales between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, are equal to or greater than
three hundred thousand megawatt-hours, the utility shall submit a clean energy plan to the
division for verification in consultation with the public utilities commission.
(C) The owner of an electric generating unit that has a nameplate capacity equal to or
larger than fifty megawatts and emits greenhouse gases directly into the atmosphere shall submit
a clean energy plan to the division that covers all greenhouse gas emissions from the electric
generating unit that are not otherwise required to be included in the clean energy plan of any
entity or a plan submitted pursuant to subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(I) of this section that receives
electricity from the electric generating unit.
(D) Any entity that is required to submit a clean energy plan pursuant to this subsection
(1)(e)(VIII.4) shall submit a clean energy plan: To the division no later than December 31, 2024;
and to the public utilities commission no later than December 31, 2025. The division, in
consultation with the public utilities commission, shall verify that a clean energy plan submitted
to the division pursuant to this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.4)(D) meets the requirements of this
section and any other applicable requirements no later than September 1, 2025. Any clean energy
plan submitted to the division pursuant to this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.4)(D) is deemed approved
by the public utilities commission as submitted if the division, in consultation with the public
utilities commission, has verified that the clean energy plan complies with the applicable
requirements of this section.
(VIII.5) (A) This subsection (1)(e)(VIII.5)(A) and subsections (1)(e)(VIII.5)(B) and
(1)(e)(VIII.5)(C) of this section apply only to an electric utility that serves at least fifty thousand
Colorado retail customers and obtains less than eighty percent of the load necessary to serve
Colorado retail customers from an electric utility that has filed a clean energy plan and owns or
plans to invest in, in whole or in part, an electric generating unit with a nameplate capacity larger
than fifty megawatts that directly emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, including
generating units that burn oil, gas, or coal. The requirements of subsections (1)(e)(VIII.5)(B) and
(1)(e)(VIII.5)(C) of this section become applicable if an electric utility satisfies the criteria
specified in this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.5)(A) upon leaving a provider who has filed a clean
energy plan. The electric utility shall provide notice of intent to file a clean energy plan to the
division within six months after becoming subject to this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.5). The electric
utility shall file a clean energy plan pursuant to subsection (1)(e)(VIII) of this section within one
year after becoming subject to this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.5).
(B) If an electric utility does not provide written notice of intent to file a clean energy
plan with the division or does not submit a clean energy plan after expressing written intent to
file a plan, the commission shall, within fifteen months after the electric utility's failure to
provide written notice or submit a plan, adopt a rule to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused
by the electric utility's Colorado retail electricity sales of at least forty-eight percent by 2025 and
eighty percent by 2030, including emissions associated with imported electricity, as compared to
a 2005 baseline. The commission shall design the rules to accelerate near-term reductions in
greenhouse gas emissions in order to reduce total cumulative emissions between the date of
adoption and 2030.
(C) Clean energy plan filings must include projected emissions for each calendar year
through 2030 to inform the statewide greenhouse gas planning process. The division shall
evaluate the reported emissions and supplemental information in an electric utility's annual
greenhouse gas reporting data submission made pursuant to the commission's rules to determine
whether an electric utility is progressing consistent with the annual emissions projected by the
plan and remains on track to achieve the reductions of the clean energy plan by 2030. If the
division determines that the electric utility is not progressing as planned, the electric utility's
annual greenhouse gas emissions exceed annual emissions projected as part of an approved clean
energy plan for two consecutive years, or the electric utility's annual greenhouse gas emission
reductions are not on track to achieve at least an eighty percent reduction below 2005 levels in
greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, the division shall include this information in the next
greenhouse gas progress briefing to the commission and the commission shall, within nine
months after receiving the briefing from the division, adopt rules that require an updated clean
energy plan to be filed that demonstrates achievement of the 2030 targets and the cumulative
emission reductions that were projected in the initial clean energy plan. The updated clean
energy plan, once verified by the division, becomes the operative plan for purposes of subsection
(1)(e)(VIII) of this section regarding the commission's regulatory requirements.
(D) Notwithstanding subsections (1)(e)(VIII.5)(A) to (1)(e)(VIII.5)(C) of this section, a
qualifying retail utility with a clean energy plan that has been approved and verified in
accordance with section 40-2-125.5 and subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(C) of this section and a
wholesale generation and transmission cooperative with an electric resource plan that has been
filed in accordance with subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(I) of this section and that has been approved are
not subject to subsections (1)(e)(VIII.5)(A) to (1)(e)(VIII.5)(C) of this section. Progress of
emission reductions for an electric utility that is an investor-owned retail utility with a clean
energy plan that has been approved and verified in accordance with section 40-2-125.5 and
subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(C) of this section or a wholesale generation and transmission cooperative
with an electric resource plan that has been filed in accordance with subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(I) of
this section and that has been approved shall be assessed through the recurring resource planning
process at the public utilities commission.
(E) Any entity required to submit a clean energy plan to the division may designate
another entity to submit a clean energy plan on its behalf if the designated entity agrees to submit
a clean energy plan on its behalf. In this case, the designated entity shall submit a clean energy
plan that meets all of the requirements that apply to the entity and its clean energy plan,
including all of the substantive and procedural requirements and the applicable deadlines for
submitting the clean energy plan to the division and the public utilities commission. Two or
more entities required under this section to submit a clean energy plan may submit a joint clean
energy plan if the joint clean energy plan meets all of the requirements that apply to each of the
entities and their respective clean energy plans, including all of the substantive and procedural
requirements and the applicable deadlines for submitting the clean energy plans to the division
and the public utilities commission. If an entity intends to designate another entity to submit a
clean energy plan on its behalf, or if two or more entities intend to submit a joint clean energy
plan, the entity or entities shall notify the division of their intent prior to the applicable deadline
to submit the clean energy plan to the division.
(F) No later than October 1, 2024, the division shall submit a report to the general
assembly that: Identifies all electric utilities that serve retail electricity customers in the state;
identifies which electric utilities have submitted a clean energy plan or a plan submitted in
accordance with subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(I) of this section with the division, including the
verification status of each clean energy plan or plan submitted in accordance with subsection
(1)(e)(VIII)(I) of this section, have not submitted a clean energy plan to the division but are
required by this section to submit a clean energy plan to the division, or are not required by this
section to submit a clean energy plan; calculates the percentage of retail electricity sales in the
state from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, that are covered by a clean energy plan or
plan submitted in accordance with subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(I) of this section that has been
submitted to the division or is required to be submitted to the division but has not been submitted
to the division; identifies all greenhouse gas emissions from a power plant unit with a nameplate
capacity equal to or larger than fifty megawatts that are not included in a clean energy plan that
has been verified and approved by the division, that are not included in a clean energy plan that
is required to be submitted to the division but has not been submitted, or that are not covered by
any clean energy plan; and presents a map of all electricity generation resources responsible for
greenhouse gas emissions in the state that is overlaid on top of the territories of each utility and
disproportionately impacted communities.
(G) No later than December 31, 2024, the division shall issue guidance specifying the
manner in which the division will track and account for greenhouse gas emissions associated
with electric utility transactions in organized markets, including energy imbalance markets,
extended day-ahead markets, independent system operators, and regional transmission
organizations, for the purposes of monitoring progress and compliance with clean energy plans
that have been verified by the division. The guidance must address, at a minimum, appropriate
platforms or platform capabilities to host greenhouse gas emissions data in a transparent and
efficient manner for ease of access to the data for utilities, energy customers, and the public. In
adopting the guidance, the division shall consult with the public utilities commission.
(H) No later than March 31, 2026, any entity required to submit a clean energy plan or a
plan pursuant to subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(I) of this section to the division may inform the division
in writing of any challenges the entity is encountering or expects to encounter in achieving at
least an eighty percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions caused by the entity's Colorado
electricity sales by 2030 relative to 2005 levels. If an entity informs the division of any
challenges in achieving the greenhouse gas emissions reduction percentage, the division, in
coordination with the Colorado energy office created in section 24-38.5-101 (1), shall hold at
least one public stakeholder meeting in 2026 to discuss the challenges raised by the entity and
strategies for the entity to achieve the greenhouse gas emissions reduction percentage. If, after
the public stakeholder meeting, an entity informs the division in writing that the entity is still
encountering or expects to encounter challenges in achieving the greenhouse gas emissions
reduction percentage, no later than December 31, 2026, the division shall submit a concise report
to the general assembly summarizing the challenges the entity is encountering or expects to
encounter and describing any potential solutions to the challenges. This subsection
(1)(e)(VIII.5)(H) is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.
(VIII.6) (A) As used in this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.6), "cooperative retail electric utility"
means any retail electric utility that, as of January 1, 2021, was a member of a wholesale
generation and transmission cooperative that has either indicated an intent to submit or, on or
after December 1, 2020, has submitted a clean energy plan or plan in accordance with subsection
(1)(e)(VIII)(I) of this section and that either: Provided or provides a nonconditional notice that it
is withdrawing from the wholesale generation and transmission cooperative after January 1,
2021; or, after January 1, 2021, obtains more than five percent of its firm capacity supply from a
greenhouse-gas-emitting generation source other than the cooperative retail electric utility's
wholesale generation and transmission cooperative provider.
(B) A cooperative retail electric utility shall submit a clean energy plan to the division
no later than twenty-four months after ceasing to be a member of a wholesale generation and
transmission cooperative or no later than twenty-four months after the date that an applicable
partial requirements contract, as described in subsection (1)(e)(VIII.6)(A) of this section, begins.
If a cooperative retail electric utility enters into an applicable partial requirements contract
before terminating its membership in a wholesale generation and transmission cooperative, the
cooperative retail electric utility shall submit its clean energy plan within twenty-four months
after ceasing to be a member of the wholesale generation and transmission cooperative.
(C) In the case of a cooperative retail electric utility that has provided or provides a
nonconditional notice that it is withdrawing from a wholesale generation and transmission
cooperative, no later than twelve months after the cooperative retail electric utility is required to
submit a clean energy plan to the division pursuant to this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.6), the division,
in consultation with the public utilities commission, shall verify that the clean energy plan
demonstrates that the cooperative retail electric utility will meet the requirements of subsection
(1)(e)(VIII.9) of this section and that the cooperative retail electric utility will achieve at least an
eighty percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the utility's Colorado electricity
sales by 2030 relative to 2005 levels.
(D) In the case of a cooperative retail electric utility that has entered a partial
requirements contract, as described in subsection (1)(e)(VIII.6)(A) of this section, no later than
twelve months after the cooperative retail electric utility is required to submit a clean energy
plan to the division pursuant to this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.6), the division, in consultation with
the public utilities commission, shall verify that the clean energy plan demonstrates that the
cooperative retail electric utility will meet the requirements of subsection (1)(e)(VIII.9) of this
section and that the cooperative retail electric utility will achieve at least an eighty percent
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the utility's Colorado electricity sales by 2030
relative to 2005 levels. The cooperative retail electric utility shall calculate its 2005 baseline
emissions for a clean energy plan required pursuant to this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.6) by the
percentage of the utility's sales that it self-supplies under its partial requirements contract.
(E) A cooperative retail electric utility shall submit a clean energy plan to the public
utilities commission no later than twelve months after the deadline to submit the clean energy
plan to the division. Any clean energy plan submitted to the division pursuant to this subsection
(1)(e)(VIII.6) is deemed approved by the public utilities commission as submitted if the division,
in consultation with the public utilities commission, has verified that the clean energy plan
complies with the applicable requirements of this section.
(F) Submission of a clean energy plan by a cooperative retail electric utility pursuant to
this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.6) does not alter the cooperative retail electric utility's regulatory
status with respect to the public utilities commission.
(G) Upon the request of a cooperative retail electric utility, a wholesale power marketer,
as defined in subsection (1)(e)(VIII.7)(A) of this section, public utility, or owner of an electric
generating resource that supplies electricity to the cooperative retail electric utility shall provide
any emissions data in its possession relating to the cooperative retail electric utility that is
necessary for the cooperative retail electric utility to develop and submit a clean energy plan to
the division. In complying with this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.6)(G), a person may withhold any
proprietary or confidential information or trade secrets.
(VIII.7) (A) As used in this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.7), "wholesale power marketer"
means an entity operating in the state that supplies wholesale capacity or energy to a retail
electric utility located in the state and that supplies three hundred thousand megawatt-hours or
more of electricity to entities in the state annually. "Wholesale power marketer" does not include
a wholesale generation and transmission cooperative, a retail electric utility, a federal power
marketing administration, an independent power producer, any entity for which all of its
greenhouse gas emissions are included in another entity's clean energy plan or plan pursuant to
subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(I) of this section, any entity that supplies capacity or energy to electric
utilities located in the state solely through an organized market that electric utilities in the state
can participate in, and any entity that is required by another provision of this section to file a
clean energy plan or has voluntarily filed a clean energy plan.
(B) A wholesale power marketer shall submit a clean energy plan to the division if, on or
after July 1, 2023: The wholesale power marketer sells, provides, arranges for, or contracts for
the delivery of capacity or energy to a retail electric utility located in the state or has contracted
to sell, provide, arrange, or contract for the delivery of capacity or energy to a retail electric
utility located in the state; and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the operations
described in this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.7)(B) are not otherwise required to be included in
another entity's clean energy plan or a plan submitted pursuant to subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(I) of
this section.
(C) The division shall, in consultation with the public utilities commission, verify that
the wholesale power marketer's clean energy plan: Meets the requirements of subsection
(1)(e)(VIII.9) of this section and achieves at least an eighty percent reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions caused by the wholesale power marketer's Colorado electricity sales by 2030 relative
to 2005 levels; and addresses all greenhouse gas emissions associated with the operations
described in subsection (1)(e)(VIII.7)(B) of this section.
(D) A wholesale power marketer shall submit a clean energy plan: With the division no
later than one year after becoming subject to the requirements of this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.7);
and with the public utilities commission no later than one year after the date that the wholesale
power marketer must submit the clean energy plan with the division. The division, in
consultation with the public utilities commission, shall verify the clean energy plan within nine
months after the date that the wholesale power marketer must submit the clean energy plan with
the division.
(E) If a wholesale power marketer does not submit a clean energy plan to the division by
the deadline to submit a clean energy plan to the division pursuant to subsection
(1)(e)(VIII.7)(D) of this section, no later than two years after the deadline to submit a clean
energy plan to the division pursuant to subsection (1)(e)(VIII.7)(D) of this section, the
commission shall adopt rules that reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by the wholesale power
marketer to ensure that the wholesale power marketer meets the requirements of subsection
(1)(e)(VIII.9) of this section and achieves at least an eighty percent reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions caused by the wholesale power marketer's Colorado electricity sales by 2030 relative
to 2005 levels.
(F) Submission of a clean energy plan by a wholesale power marketer pursuant to this
subsection (1)(e)(VIII.7) does not alter the wholesale power marketer's regulatory status with
respect to the public utilities commission.
(G) A wholesale power marketer that supplies electricity to any entity shall, upon the
request of the entity, provide any emissions data in its possession relating to the entity that is
necessary for the entity to develop and submit a clean energy plan to the division. In complying
with this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.7)(G), a person may withhold any proprietary or confidential
information or trade secrets. If the wholesale power marketer does not possess the emissions
data, the entity shall disclose in its clean energy plan that the entity does not possess the
emissions data and shall not be penalized for the unavailability of the emissions data. If the
emissions data is unavailable, the entity filing the clean energy plan shall make a reasonable
estimate of emissions.
(VIII.8) (A) As used in this subsection (1)(e)(VIII.8), "new electric utility" means any
new electric utility, of any type, that is incorporated, created, or otherwise formed on or after
July 1, 2023, that serves retail customers in the state and sells three hundred thousand megawatt-
hours or more of electricity in its first year of operation.
(B) A new electric utility shall submit a clean energy plan: With the division no later
than two years after the date that the new electric utility is incorporated, created, or otherwise
formed; and with the public utilities commission no later than one year after the date that the
new electric utility must submit the clean energy plan with the division. The division, in
consultation with the public utilities commission, shall, no later than nine months after the date
that the new electric utility must submit the clean energy plan with the division, verify that the
clean energy plan demonstrates that the new electric utility will meet the requirements of
subsection (1)(e)(VIII.9) of this section and that the new electric utility will achieve at least an
eighty percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the utility's Colorado electricity
sales by 2030 relative to the new electric utility's annual greenhouse gas emissions during its
first year of operations.
(C) If the new electric utility does not submit a clean energy plan to the division no later
than two years after being incorporated, created, or otherwise formed, the commission, within
three years after the new electric utility is incorporated, created, or otherwise formed, shall adopt
rules to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by the new electric utility to ensure that the new
electric utility: Meets the requirements of subsection (1)(e)(VIII.9) of this section; and achieves
at least an eighty percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the new electric
utility's Colorado electricity sales by 2030 relative to the new electric utility's annual greenhouse
gas emissions during its first year of operations.
(VIII.9) (A) In addition to meeting the clean energy targets described in section 40-2-
125.5 (3), any clean energy plan or any plan submitted pursuant to subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(I) of
this section that is submitted to the division on or after January 1, 2024, must achieve at least a
forty-six percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the entity's Colorado
electricity sales by 2027 relative to 2005 levels, if the achievement of the forty-six percent
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions will maintain reliability and result in an incremental
average annual cost to the entity of no more than two and one-half percent of the entity's total
system costs.
(B) Subsections (1)(e)(VIII.9)(C) and (1)(e)(VIII.9)(D) of this section apply to any
entity that, before January 1, 2024, submits a clean energy plan or a plan pursuant to subsection
(1)(e)(VIII)(I) of this section to the division and the verification workbook for the plan projects
that the plan will not achieve the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions described in subsection
(1)(e)(VIII.9)(A) of this section.
(C) Any entity described in subsection (1)(e)(VIII.9)(B) of this section is encouraged to
achieve the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions described in subsection (1)(e)(VIII.9)(A) of
this section. As a part of any electric resource plan developed, finalized, or submitted on or after
July 1, 2023, any entity described in subsection (1)(e)(VIII.9)(B) of this section shall model: At
least one portfolio that achieves the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions described in
subsection (1)(e)(VIII.9)(A) of this section and achieves at least an eighty percent reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions caused by the entity's Colorado electricity sales by 2030 relative to
2005 levels; and at least one portfolio that achieves greater greenhouse gas emissions reductions
than the reductions that the clean energy plan submitted before January 1, 2024, is projected to
achieve by 2027 and achieves at least an eighty percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
caused by the entity's Colorado electricity sales by 2030 relative to 2005 levels. The entity's
governing body shall consider these two portfolios as part of the electric resource planning
process.
(D) To assist entities that have submitted a clean energy plan or a plan pursuant to
subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(I) of this section to cost-effectively maximize reduction in greenhouse
gas emissions as part of the electric resource planning process and to otherwise accelerate
greenhouse gas emissions reductions, at the request of an entity that has submitted a clean
energy plan or a plan submitted pursuant to subsection (1)(e)(VIII)(I) of this section that has
been verified by the division in consultation with the public utilities commission, the Colorado
energy office, created in section 24-38.5-101 (1), shall provide the entity with information
regarding federal funding opportunities for accelerating reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
(IX) (A) In addressing greenhouse gas emissions from an energy-intensive, trade-
exposed manufacturing source, the commission shall require the source to execute an energy and
emission control audit, according to criteria established by the commission, of the source's
operations every five years through at least 2035. A qualified third party, as determined by the
commission, shall conduct the audit and submit the results to the commission. If the commission
determines that the source currently employs best available emission control technologies for
greenhouse gas emissions and best available energy efficiency practices, the commission shall
not impose a direct nonadministrative cost on the source directly associated with at least ninety-
five percent of the source's greenhouse gas emissions attributable to manufacturing a good in this
state for a period of five years, if the source's emissions are not greater than the emissions
associated with use of the best available emission control technologies as determined by the
commission. The commission shall consider how program design as relevant to those sources
can further mitigate the cost of reducing emissions for such manufacturers while providing an
incentive to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. Specifically, the commission shall design
the program as relevant to those sources such that as the sources are subject to emission
reduction requirements, those sources will have, under the program, a pathway to obtain
equivalent lower-cost emission reductions at other regulated sources to satisfy their compliance
obligations.
(B) As used in this subsection (1)(e)(IX), "energy-intensive, trade-exposed
manufacturing source" means an entity that principally manufactures iron, steel, aluminum, pulp,
paper, or cement and that is engaged in the manufacture of goods through one or more
emissions-intensive, trade-exposed processes, as determined by the commission.
(X) Nothing in this subsection (1)(e) diminishes the existing authority of the commission
or the division. Nothing in this subsection (1)(e) alters the regulatory exemptions provided in
section 25-7-109 (8)(a). Nothing authorized in this subsection (1)(e), including the assignment of
emission reduction obligations or emission authorizations and excluding program development
and administrative costs, implicates state fiscal year spending as defined in section 24-77-102.
Nothing in this subsection (1)(e) alters any requirement to prepare a cost-benefit analysis under
section 24-4-103 (2.5) or any requirement to issue a regulatory analysis under section 24-4-103
(4.5). Nothing in this subsection (1)(e) diminishes the authority of the public utilities
commission under the public utilities law, including sections 40-3-101 and 40-3-102.
(X.4) No later than September 1, 2022, the commission shall propose rules establishing
recovered methane protocols, as that term is defined in section 40-3.2-108 (2)(p), for at least
inactive coal mines, biomethane, as that term is defined in section 40-3.2-108 (2)(a), and gas
system leaks, and a crediting and tracking system for recovered methane, as that term is defined
in section 40-3.2-108 (2)(n). The commission shall adopt the rules no later than February 1,
2023. The rule-making proceeding is subject to the procedural requirements of this subsection
(1)(e).
(X.7) In designing greenhouse gas emission reduction rules that apply to gas distribution
utilities with clean heat plans approved by the public utilities commission, the commission shall
harmonize its regulatory requirements with the activities contemplated under an approved clean
heat plan. In adopting any additional emission reduction requirements on gas distribution utilities
subject to a clean heat plan different from the requirements of an approved clean heat plan, the
commission shall:
(A) Consult with the public utilities commission regarding the emission reductions under
any approved clean heat plan, the clean heat targets, and the cost-effectiveness of any additional
emission reduction requirements and their impact on customer costs; and
(B) Design rules to maximize cost-effectiveness of additional emission reduction
requirements to protect low-income customers.
(X.8) (A) The definitions in section 40-3.2-108 (2) apply to this subsection (1)(e)(X.8)
and subsection (1)(e)(X.7) of this section.
(B) A municipal gas distribution utility shall implement a clean heat plan program. The
purpose of a clean heat plan is to reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions to meet the
state's greenhouse gas pollution reduction goals in section 25-7-102 (2)(g). The clean heat plan
must include a projection of the utility's greenhouse gas emissions through 2050.
(C) A municipal gas distribution utility shall submit its clean heat plan to the division no
later than August 1, 2023, for the division to verify that the plan demonstrates that, by 2025, the
utility will achieve at least a four percent total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by
the utility's retail gas sales below 2015 levels, of which not more than one percent can come
from recovered methane. The utility may propose a cost cap of two percent of total annual
revenue from full-service gas customers in achieving the 2025 target. The plan submitted to the
division must also show that, by 2030, the utility will achieve at least a twenty-two percent
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the utility's retail gas sales below 2015 levels
by 2030, of which not more than five percent can be from recovered methane. The utility may
propose a cost cap of two and one-half percent of total annual revenue from full-service gas
customers in achieving the 2030 target. If the division's calculations show that a clean heat plan
submitted by a municipal gas distribution utility does not achieve the relevant clean heat targets,
the utility shall revise its plan to strive to maximize emission reductions without exceeding the
cost cap.
(D) The utility shall provide to the division an annual report of carbon dioxide emissions
associated with customer end-uses and, separately, methane emissions associated with the
utility's distribution system.
(XI) As used in this subsection (1)(e):
(A) "Cost-effective" or "cost-effectiveness" means the cost per unit of reduced emissions
of greenhouse gases expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent.
(B) "Greenhouse gas" includes carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,
hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, nitrogen trifluoride, and sulfur hexafluoride, expressed as
carbon dioxide equivalent.
(B.5) "Industrial and manufacturing sector" means energy combustion and energy use by
industry, including: Combustion from coal, diesel, gasoline, heat, liquified petroleum gas,
natural gas, refinery feedstocks, and residual fuel oil; and industrial processes, including cement
manufacture, electric transmission and distribution equipment, iron and steel production, lime
manufacture, limestone and dolomite use, ozone depleting substances substitutes, semiconductor
manufacture, soda ash, and urea consumption. The term does not include oil and gas exploration,
production, processing, transmission, and storage operations other than energy combustion
emissions that are included in the industrial and manufacturing sector.
(C) "Retail electricity sales" means electric energy sold to retail end-use electric
consumers.
(XII) No later than January 1, 2022, the commission shall adopt, and the division shall
begin implementing, comprehensive rules that will reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions
from oil and gas exploration, production, processing, transmission, and storage operations in the
state below the 2005 baseline established for the oil and gas emissions covered by the "oil and
gas fugitive emissions" category in the initial inventory developed by the division pursuant to
section 25-7-140 (2)(a)(II), taking into account subsections (1)(e)(II) to (1)(e)(VI) of this section,
by at least thirty-six percent by 2025 and sixty percent by 2030. The commission shall design the
rules to prioritize near-term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The rules must include:
(A) Protections for disproportionately impacted communities, achi

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