(1) The Colorado energy office shall:
(a) Work with communities, utilities, private and public organizations, and individuals to promote:
The renewable energy standard established in section 40-2-124;
Clean and renewable energy, such as wind, hydroelectricity, solar, and geothermal;
Cleaner energy sources such as biogas, biomass, and nuclear;
Traditional energy sources such as oil and other petroleum products, coal, propane,and natural gas;
Energy efficiency technologies and practices;
Cleaner technologies by utilizing traditional, Colorado-sourced energy;(VII) New energy technologies as described in section 40-2-123; and (VIII) Energy storage systems.
Develop programs to promote high performance buildings for commercial and residential markets;
Make state government more energy efficient;
Promote technology transfer and economic development;
Advance innovative energy efficiency, renewable energy, and efficiency throughoutthe state as specified in sections 24-38.5-102.4 and 24-38.5-102.5; (f) to (i) Repealed.
Ensure that information explaining the requirements of energy codes is available andprovide technical assistance concerning the implementation and enforcement of energy codes to both counties and municipalities as specified in sections 30-28-211 (7) and 31-15-602 (7), C.R.S.;
Collaborate with the state board of land commissioners regarding renewable energyresource development as specified in section 36-1-147.5 (4), C.R.S.;
Provide home energy efficiency improvements for low-income households as specified in section 40-8.7-112 (3)(b), C.R.S., and prepare and submit to the general assembly an annual report as specified in section 40-8.7-112 (3)(f), C.R.S.;
Establish and manage a program to improve energy efficiency in public schools asprovided in section 39-29-109.5, C.R.S.;
(I) Provide public utilities with reasonable assistance, if requested, in seeking andobtaining support and sponsorship for an IGCC project and manage and distribute to the utility some or all of any funds provided by the state or by the United States government to the state for purposes of study or development of an IGCC project.
(II) As used in this subsection (1)(n), "IGCC project" means an IGCC facility that:
Demonstrates the use of IGCC technology to generate electricity using Colorado orother western coal;
Does not exceed three hundred fifty megawatts nameplate capacity; except that itmay exceed this capacity if the Colorado energy office determines that a larger size is necessary to obtain the benefits of federal cost-sharing, financial grants or tax benefits, or other financial opportunities or arrangements benefitting the project, including opportunities to jointly develop the project with other electric utilities;
Demonstrates the capture and sequestration of a portion of the project's carbon dioxide emissions;
Includes methods and procedures to monitor the fate of the carbon dioxide capturedand sequestered from the facility; and (E) Is located in Colorado.
(III) As used in this subsection (1)(n), "IGCC facility" means an integrated gasification combined cycle generation facility that converts coal to a gaseous fuel from which impurities are removed prior to combustion, uses the gaseous fuel in a combustion turbine to produce electricity, and captures the waste heat from the combustion turbine to drive a steam turbine to produce more electricity. An IGCC facility may also use natural gas, in addition to gasified coal, as a fuel in the combustion turbine.
Collaborate with stakeholders to develop and encourage increased utilization of energy curricula, including science, technology, engineering, and math curricula, that will serve the work force needs of all energy industries. Such collaboration may include executive departments, research institutions, state colleges, community colleges, industry, and trade organizations in an effort to develop a means by which the state may address all facets of work force demands in developing a balanced energy portfolio. Institutions may also partner in the development of curricula with organizations that have existing energy curricula and training programs.
Annually report to the senate agriculture, natural resources, and energy committeeand the house agriculture, livestock, and natural resources committee, or their successor committees;
Administer the electric vehicle grant fund;(r) and (s) Repealed.
Assist the executive director of the department of local affairs in allocating revenuesfrom the geothermal resource leasing fund to eligible entities pursuant to section 34-63-105, C.R.S.;
Develop basic consumer education or guidance about leased solar installation andpurchased solar installation in consultation with industries that offer these options to consumers.
Repealed.
The Colorado energy office shall notify the house of representatives and senate committees of reference to which the office is assigned pursuant to section 2-7-203 (1), C.R.S., as part of its "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act" hearing required by section 2-7-203 (2), C.R.S., if it has made any changes to:
Any performance plans and performance evaluations required pursuant to section 2-
7-204, C.R.S.;
Office policies related to energy transmission; and
Office policies that positively or negatively impact the energy sector.
Source: L. 2008: Entire article added, p. 66, § 1, effective March 18; (1)(l) amended, p.
1871, § 5, effective June 2. L. 2009: (1)(s) added, (HB 09-1298), ch. 417, p. 2317, § 5, effective
June 4; (1)(q) added, (SB 09-075), ch. 418, p. 2319, § 2, effective August 5; (1)(r) added, (HB 09-1312), ch. 253, p. 1145, § 3, effective August 5. L. 2010: (1)(t) added, (SB 10-174), ch. 189, p. 811, § 4, effective August 11. L. 2012: IP(1), (1)(a), (1)(e), and (1)(o) amended, (1)(s) and (2) repealed, and (3) added, (HB 12-1315), ch. 224, p. 963, § 17, effective July 1. L. 2013: (3)(a) amended, (HB 13-1299), ch. 382, p. 2244, § 7, effective June 5. L. 2016: (1)(h) repealed, (SB 16-189), ch. 210, p. 767, § 51, effective June 6. L. 2018: (1)(a) and (1)(o) amended and (1)(f),
(1)(g), (1)(i), and (1)(r) repealed, (SB 18-003), ch. 359, p. 2132, § 5, effective June 1. L. 2019: (1)(n) amended, (SB 19-236), ch. 359, p. 3333, § 27, effective May 30. L. 2020: (1)(u) added, (HB 20-1155), ch. 193, p. 895, § 1, effective September 14.