By Debi Brazzale, COLORADO NEWS AGENCY

A pair of measures OK’d by a panel of lawmakers today would add more biomass to the list of fuel sources that qualify under renewable-energy mandates on public utilities.  Members of the House Transportation and Energy Committee approved both measures unanimously.

House Bill 1363 addresses biogenic gas, and Senate Bill 177 addresses woody biomass and solid waste biomass.

Biogenic gas is a biologically produced gas extracted from wells and coal beds that are no longer being used.   When microbes – bacteria- are introduced into the area, they go to work breaking down the fossil fuels and the resulting gas is captured and used to produce energy.

Biomass is a term used to describe biologically based material that is converted into energy.  The biomass in one bill focuses on wood chips–especially those that are derived from the fallout of bark beetle infestation that has swept through Colorado’s forests in recent years—and from solid waste materials from sewage.

Rep. Christine Scanlon, D-Dillon, sponsor of both measures, said that the inclusion of the wood chips is a win-win.

“Promoting woody biomass resulting from the bark beetle infestation will not only aid in forestry management but will contribute to our new energy economy,” said Scanlon.

Rep. Max Tyler D, Lakewood, wanted to clarify that the additions of biogenic gas would fit under the category of renewable energy and wouldn’t be producing a new well site.

“You’re not going in there and doing anything that us folks who like renewable energy might not like–like going in there and ‘drill baby drill’—right? ” asked Tyler.

Scanlon said production of biogenetic gas would be environmentally friendly and amount to recycling of the well.

Rep. Marsha Looper, R-Calhan, questioned why supporters of using solid waste as a fuel source wouldn’t also support new, cleaner coal technologies.

“My concern is that we’re not supporting clean coal technologies…yet we’re embracing the use of solid waste,” said Looper.  Looper added, “I’m going to hold my nose and vote for this bill because I support new and emerging technologies for energy.”

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STATE BILL COLORADO
Colorado’s Senate on Tuesday preliminarily approved legislation requiring Xcel Energy to convert two coal-fired power plants to natural gas. The measure, which has bipartisan support, is being challenged by the coal industry. Here’s how news organizations covered the bill’s passage.

The Denver Post: Xcel Energy got a green light from the state legislature Tuesday to start a comprehensive plan to cut air pollution at aging coal-fired power plants — with “primary consideration” to switching to natural gas. On a voice vote, the state Senate approved a bill that requires Xcel Energy to cut emissions of nitrogen oxides by 70 to 80 percent by 2017 at aging Front Range coal plants. Nitrogen oxides contribute to Colorado’s regional haze and ozone pollution problems.

The Denver Business Journal: House Bill 1365 had sailed through the House with bipartisan support but ran into a cauldron of anger among Senate Republicans who said it would run the coal industry out of business in Colorado. After its expected final approval on Wednesday and concurrence vote by the House on Thursday, however, the bill is likely to be signed into law fairly quickly by Gov. Bill Ritter.

Pueblo Chieftain: Born just last week, HB1365 has grown up quickly. It already has passed the house and faces a final vote of the Senate soon, possibly as early as today.

The Durango Herald: Opposition hardened to Sen. Bruce Whitehead’s bill on coal-fired power plants Tuesday, although a bipartisan coalition held together well enough that the bill could pass the Senate as early as today. The debate caused a family feud between the top two Republicans in the Senate and the other 12. Meanwhile, three Democrats voted against the bill by Whitehead, a fellow Democrat from Hesperus.

Associated Press: Legislation aimed at using natural gas to reduce Front Range emissions from coal-fired power plants and heading off federal clean air restrictions won initial approval Tuesday in the state Senate. The Senate voted 20-13 to back the bill, setting up a final vote on Wednesday. The measure has already been approved by the House.

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel: It isn’t right to promote one industry at the expense of another, according to state senators who oppose a measure to convert Front Range, coal-fired, power plants to burn natural gas. Sen. Al White, R-Hayden, and other senators argued Tuesday to no avail that while the idea likely would boost drilling jobs on the Western Slope and elsewhere in the state, there could be a corresponding decrease in the number of mining and railroad positions.

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About 300 people rallied on the west steps of the state capitol Monday morning to show their support for the proposed Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act, which would require Xcel Energy to mothball or retrofit three coal-burning power plants in favor of cleaner-burning gas-powered facilities, The Colorado Independent reports. State Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, reportedly stood in for State Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, who would not attend Monday’s event but did participate in a conference call in support of the bill with Gov. Bill Ritter over the weekend. HB 1365 is a key part of Ritter’s ongoing reformation of the state’s energy landscape via his “New Energy Economy.”

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Community solar gardens got a boost last week when the The Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (CoSEIA) forged a compromise with Claire Levy, state representative from Boulder, the heart of solar power research and green energy entrepreneurialism in the state, The Colorado Independent reports. The Association withdrew its opposition to thesolar gardens bill after meeting with Levy and hammering out two amendments aimed at addressing the concerns of local solar installers. Breaking with state renewable energy proponents, CoSEIA opposed the original version of the bill for the negative impact the organization believed it would have on solar installers.

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By Peter Marcus, DENVER DAILY NEWS
Two Colorado citizens have proposed a ballot initiative that would allow utility customers to vote on whether to opt out of the state’s renewable energy standard.
As Gov. Bill Ritter was signing a bill on Monday that raised the state’s renewable energy standard to 30 percent by 2020, Parker resident Bob Kennedy and Greeley resident Kent Overturf prepared to introduce a ballot proposal on Wednesday to Legislative Legal Council that would allow utility customers to submit a petition requesting an election among customers on whether to opt out of the state’s renewable energy standard.
Customers would need to gather 5 percent of all customers’ signatures for the utility to hold a mail-in election on whether to opt out of the standard. A majority of customers would need to vote to opt out for the utility to provide the exemption.
Backed by the Denver-based Western Tradition Partnership, a conservative group dedicated to Western issues, the petition aims at protecting customers from higher utility rates as companies increase their renewable energy portfolios, according to proponents.
“In this economy, families should have the right to buy less expensive electricity,” Dan Fuchs, director of government relations for the Western Tradition Partnership and a former Montana state lawmaker, said in a statement. “It comes down to one question — who controls your family budget, you or the political class?”
Proponents call such renewable energy standards unfair government mandates. They say technology is not advanced enough to make renewables an affordable option for consumers.
But Colorado voters have backed renewable energy standards in the past. In 2004, voters approved Amendment 37, an initiative in which utilities were required to achieve a 10 percent standard by 2015. Xcel met that standard by 2007. Ritter later successfully pushed lawmakers to double that standard within his first 100 days of office.
This year, Democrats pushed for an even higher standard, rasing it to 30 percent, despite Republican objection.
Ritter’s spokesman, Evan Dreyer, pointed out that Amendment 37 protects consumers from skyrocketing rates by setting a 2 percent cap on increasing rates for renewable energy standards. There is also the Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel, which Dreyer points out is charged with representing the public before the Public Utilities Commission.
“It seems this proposal is unnecessary,” said Dreyer. “We have a number of mechanisms that are protecting rate payers right now while we are moving to a New Energy Economy and a clean energy economy.”
Dreyer said it is “ironic” that proponents of the proposed initiative are stressing possible rate increases associated with renewable energy standards while Xcel Energy is raising rates to pay for opening a new coal-fired power plant in Pueblo.
Environmental groups also criticized proponents for the initiative. Pam Kiely, legislative director for Environment Colorado, said proponents are living in the past if they don’t believe renewable energy is worthwhile.
“These initiatives must have been drafted by the Colorado chapter of the Flat Earth Society,” she quipped. “Colorado has already proven that the New Energy Economy works — we can grow good new jobs, jumpstart our economy and clean up our environment all at the same time. The choice is ours — we can either win the race to clean energy innovation in the 21st century, or we can turn the clock back.”

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Editor’s Note: State Bill premium users may listen to the entire Senate Agriculture Committee hearing by pressing on the audio player published here:

A bill aimed at curbing air pollution turned into a battle over jobs at a state Senate hearing Thursday, The Denver Post reports. Already passed by the House of Representatives, the bill directs Xcel Energy to come up with a comprehensive plan to reduce nitrogen-oxides pollution by up to 80 percent at its older Front Range coal-burning plants. The legislation also calls for giving “primary consideration to converting from coal to (natural) gas.” That language mobilized the mining industry, railroads and unions Thursday to urge the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee to reject the legislation.

In other coverage:

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel: Xcel Energy customers would see a utility rate increase even if the Colorado Legislature didn’t approve a measure to convert coal-powered plants to natural gas, company officials told lawmakers Thursday. House Bill 1365 has wide support on both sides of the Continental Divide, but questions have arisen over what it might cost consumers. But Frank Prager, managing director of environmental policy for Xcel, told the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee that the state’s largest electric utility could request a 4 percent to 6 percent increase in rates over the next few years because the cost of coal and natural gas are going up.

The Durango Herald: Senators hit the gas Thursday on a bill to transform coal power plants into natural-gas burners. Sen. Bruce Whitehead, D-Hesperus, is sponsoring House Bill 1365 with Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction. The Senate Agriculture Committee passed it 5-2. Although Southwest Colorado environmental groups are worried about the bill, Whitehead said the economy will benefit if Denver-area coal plants are converted to natural gas.

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State Bill premium subscribers can listen to the entire House Transportation Committee meeting by clicking on the player below:

A proposal to reduce Xcel Energy Inc.’s coal-fired power generation along Colorado’s Front Range, and replace the use of coal with natural gas or other power sources, has gained the backing of Democrats and Republicans, Gov. Bill Ritter’s administration, environmentalists, the utility and the state’s natural gas industry.

The bill — HB 1365, dubbed the Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act — was introduced at the state Legislature Tuesday and speeded into its first committee hearing before the House Transportation and Energy Committee, The Denver Business Journal reports.

In other coverage:

Vincent Carroll, The Denver Post: When lawmakers appear hell-bent on passing an important and complex bill as quickly as possible, maybe we should wonder why. What’s the rush? On Monday, the Colorado House advanced a plan that is likely to result in Xcel Energy converting three coal plants to natural gas. Most House members only heard of the scheme a couple of weeks ago. They didn’t even see the bill until last week. And yet, 53 of 65 representatives — Democrats and Republicans alike — were quickly satisfied that it’s a splendid deal.

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Gov. Bill Ritter plans to sign it at a solar installation company based in Denver on Monday, the Associated Press reports.

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By Peter Marcus, DENVER DAILY NEWS
During a legislative session in which Republicans and Democrats have bickered about everything from increasing the state’s renewable energy standard to eliminating tax credits and incentives for business, the two political sides have come together to clean-up coal-fired power plants.
A broad bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, environmentalists and utility companies came together Tuesday to announce the introduction of the Colorado Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act. The legislation would require Xcel Energy to retire, retrofit or repower northern Front Range coal-fired power plants by the end of 2017, replacing them with facilities fueled by natural gas and other low- or non-emitting energy sources.
House Bill 1365 is sponsored by Reps. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, and Judy Solano, D-Brighton. It was backed by the House Energy and Transportation Committee Tuesday on a vote of 10-1. The bill now heads to appropriations to address a $74,115 fiscal note for Fiscal Year 2010-11 and $71,313 in Fiscal Year 2011-12. The measure, however, is expected to increase state revenue by $90,572 in FY 2011-12.
Gov. Bill Ritter, speaking at a news conference Tuesday morning to announce the introduction of the bill, spoke to the ability Colorado has to create its own energy and create jobs in the process.
“The Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act will dramatically reduce air pollution and support the growth of homegrown energy, ensuring that cleaner-burning Colorado natural gas works together with renewable energy to keep building our nationally recognized New Energy Economy,” said the governor.
Proponents believe the proposal would serve as a national model for reducing air pollution, while strengthening the economy and increasing the use of cleaner energy sources.
“This is a major step toward clearing up Colorado skies,” said Pam Kiely, legislative director for Environment Colorado. “Air pollution has damaging and costly health impacts, and Coloradans know that clean air is a foundation for healthy communities.”
Many of the coal-fired plants are already reaching the end of their lives, and therefore emit large amounts of pollutants. Six of the Front Range’s eight counties receive failing grades from the American Lung Association because of the high number of days when ozone reaches unhealthy levels. Environmental groups say HB 1365 would reduce emissions such as nitrogen — a key chemical in ozone formation — by up to 80 percent.
Utilities like Xcel signed onto the bill in the face of federal requirements to address regional haze by early next year. Federal legislation requires Colorado to submit a plan to address the pollution by next year or the Environmental Protection Agency would write its own plan for the state. HB 1365 would allow utilities like Xcel to craft their own plans for how to meet new emissions guidelines and mandates.
“We know that the Rocky Mountain region is experiencing issues with regional haze and ozone, and potentially other emissions issues,” said David Eves, president and chief executive of the Public Service Co. of Colorado, an Xcel Energy company. “This legislation establishes a framework to address these air quality issues in a way that ultimately will be the most cost-effective for our customers, and best for the State of Colorado.”
Rep. Roberts called the bill a common-sense solution.
“As a legislator from southwestern Colorado, I’ve had significant experience with the challenging issue of meeting federal air emissions standards while protecting our economy along with environmental and public health concerns,” said Roberts. “This bill presents a proactive and common sense approach to the same challenges now facing the Front Range. It’s only common sense that we better utilize Colorado’s own natural gas reserves to help the state meet the federal regulatory goals for cleaner air.”

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Sen. Josh Penry will be a main sponsor to a bill he hopes will boost Western Slope jobs, The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reports. The measure, to be detailed in a press conference led by Gov. Bill Ritter later today, is designed to help clear the air around the Denver metropolitan area and boost jobs elsewhere in the state. The bill, to be co-sponsored in the Colorado Senate by Penry and Sen. Bruce Whitehead, D-Hesperus, would call on Xcel Energy to convert its Front Range coal-fired power plants to burn natural gas.

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