Quick Links Colorado General Assembly Colorado Governor's Energy Office Funding Opportunities - Grant calendar for 2010 Colorado Smart Grid Task Force GEO Commissioned CU White Paper *** CCIA 2009 State Policy Snapshot In 2009 we wrote several bills that directly support cleantech industry development: HB 1035 will add cleantech companies to the definition of companies that can take advantage of a sales and use tax refund for equipment purchased for research and development. SB 31 will provide $3.3 million/year for five years for grants to start-up cleantech companies, proof of concept grants to technology transfer offices and matching funds for the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory. *** DSIRE - Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. ***

CCIA advocates for policies that grow and support Colorado's cleantech cluster.

The CCIA Public Policy Committee and it's sub-committees will meet to debrief and develop language to ensure that all of Colorado's cleantech companies have equal opportunity to access DOE and other federal agency grant monies. If you are a member of the CCIA and would like to participate in the Public Policy Committee, please contact Chris Shapard with your interest.

We specifically support programs that:

• Accelerate the cleantech research and development pipeline.

• Speed cleantech technology transfer and support the growth of early stage companies.

• Expand our rich base of management talent able to move cleantech. technologies and companies into the marketplace.

• Promote a business climate that is friendly to cleantech companies.

 

Federal policy priorities

CCIA has prioritized a series of federal policy initiatives that will help broaden the deployment of clean technology and support the Colorado sector's growth. Clean technology is an economic engine, providing well-paid green-collar high-tech jobs. Our state is an ideal site for demonstration projects, cleantech workforce development programs, energy efficiency retrofits, manufacturing facilities and expanded research investment.

We have the opportunity to support Colorado's position as a leader in clean technology by communicating our priorities as lawmakers develop energy-related legislation. We expect other opportunities to rapidly present themselves, including a far-reaching climate change bill and the 2010 and 2011 federal appropriations bills.

Please read our positions on capital formation, innovation, smart grid and workforce development.

 

State policy 2010

CCIA works to promote the needs of Colorado's cleantech companies by proposing initiatives and advocating for a business climate that is friendly to the cleantech industry. In its second year, the CCIA and its members testified in support of numerous clean energy measures and drafted language to address the dearth of investment capital in Colorado.

Many thanks to CCIA members Joel Serface, Vic Ahmed and Peter Gregory for taking their time to testify on the following bills.

House Bill 1001, the Governor’s first bill carried by Rep. Tyler and Senator Schwartz, increased Colorado’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) from 20% by 2020 to 30% by 2020. The bill also provides a carve-out for distributed solar, wind and biomass generation. Xcel Energy remained neutral in the debate, as sources acknowledge that the utility is close to meeting the 20% target. The CCIA provided written testimony in support of the bill.

House Bill 1328, carried by Rep. Miklosi and Senator Schwartz creates a PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program in the state. This is a statewide, voluntary Special Improvement District that allows 50,000 homeowners to receive financing to hire approved companies to install solar, wind, geothermal renewable energy systems and or energy efficiency improvements for their homes. These bonded improvements will be paid through an annual assessment on their property taxes at a fixed rate over 20 years. The CCIA provided verbal testimony on behalf of the legislation.

House Bill 1333, carried by Rep. Vigil and Senator Schwartz created a Governor’s Green Jobs office and Green Jobs Advisory Council that will review and award grants to programs that train individuals for jobs in wind, solar, renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. The CCIA testified in support of the bill and successfully added a seat for a clean technology industry association representative.

House Bill 1365, the Clean Air, Clean Jobs Act was drafted by Xcel Energy, the environmental community and the Governor’s office. The legislation will act to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants in Colorado by replacing or repowering 900 megawatts with natural gas or other low-emitting sources by 2017. The bi-partisan bill was carried by Rep. Solano and Senator Whitehead.

Senate Bill 177, carried by Senator Schwartz and Rep. Scanlan promoted biomass energy development by requiring biomass energy facilities to be valued in the same manner as wind or solar energy facilities. The bill also defines biomass to include the combustion of biomass or biosolids derived from the treatment of waste water and municipal solid waste. The CCIA successfully removed “woody” from the definition of biomass to broaden the types of fuel sources.

The CCIA testified in support of Senate Bill 180, which creates a 9-member smart grid task force that will gather information and report to the PUC and general assembly on issues related to the implementation of a smart energy grid in Colorado. The CCIA ensured that the smart grid industry has a seat on the task force and is involved in the development of the white paper. The task force’s initial report is due by January 2011. SB 180 was carried by Senator Williams and Rep. Kerr.

The CCIA drafted language that was turned into two executive orders to promote the future financing and investment of Colorado’s clean-tech and bioscience industries.

The first order creates the “Investment Opportunity Index” on the Colorado Office of Economic Development’s web site. This index will classify opportunities for capital investment in Colorado and serve as a clearinghouse for potential investors and partners

The second order calls for the formation and quarterly meeting of a Roundtable on Venture Capital. The group will serve at the direction of the Colorado Office of Economic Development as an advisory group supporting the state’s efforts to encourage investment in companies located in Colorado and to assist the state in engaging the venture capital and investment community.

CCIA lobbyist, Erin Silver, of Boyle, Silver and Weist ably represented the CCIA during the past two sessions.