| Summary |
Section 1 of the bill creates the office of sustainability in the
department of personnel (department). The office of sustainability is
required to work with state agencies and institutions of higher education
to implement environmentally sustainable practices. The powers, duties,
and functions of the office of sustainability include:
•
Providing leadership to and requiring accountability from
state agencies regarding ongoing sustainability initiatives;
•
Developing baseline metrics and goals for reduction of
negative environmental impacts and tracking state agencies'
performance in achieving the goals;
•
Tracking the amount of money the state saves as a result of
implementing sustainable practices;
•
Seeking and applying for federal funding and other grant
opportunities that would support sustainable practices
within state agencies;
•
Assisting state agencies in implementing sustainable
procurement methods and introducing options for
environmentally preferable products or services to state
agencies;
•
Assisting state agencies in installing energy-efficient
equipment and fixtures;
•
Assisting state agencies in meeting building performance
standards such as those administered by the Colorado
energy office;
•
Coordinating and assisting in planning and constructing
state agencies' electric vehicle charging infrastructure and
ensuring utilization of such infrastructure;
•
Instituting water reduction initiatives, including but not
limited to the installation of water-conserving fixtures and
plants on state property;
•
Assisting state agencies in transitioning from gas-powered
to electric equipment;
•
Implementing statewide waste diversion practices to
increase state agencies' recycling rates;
•
Developing commuting opportunities for state employees
that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution;
•
Assisting state agencies in developing training programs to
educate state employees on sustainable practices; and
•
Conducting other activities as directed by the general
assembly or the governor.
The bill creates the state agency sustainability revolving fund
(revolving fund) and directs the state treasurer to transfer $540,230 from
the general fund to the revolving fund. The bill specifies that the office
of sustainability may use the money in the revolving fund for the purposes
of operating the office and replacing the state's gas- and diesel-powered
equipment located in ozone nonattainment areas as designated by the U.S.
environmental protection agency.
In addition, the bill requires the office of sustainability to review
and coordinate state agencies' applications for elective pay funding
available under the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (act), and
to work with the office of the state controller to coordinate central
submissions of elective pay applications by advising and assisting state
agencies in submitting and centrally filing those applications and by
providing technical assistance to state agencies on elective pay.
The bill also creates the inflation reduction act elective pay cash
fund (cash fund), which consists of money received by the department
pursuant to the elective pay provisions of the act, all of which must be
deposited into the cash fund to be used for the purposes of the office.
Section 2 specifies that the office of sustainability is a type 2 entity
under the administrative organization act.
Section 3 makes several clarifications regarding the geothermal
energy grant program (grant program), including specifying that:
•
The grant program applies to both heating-only and
combined heating and cooling systems;
•
At least 25% of the grant money must be awarded to
eligible entities from or projects in low-income,
disproportionately impacted, or just transition communities;
and
•
The Colorado energy office may utilize grant program
money to support education, outreach, and engagement
with the general public and relevant stakeholders to
facilitate the growth of the geothermal sector and
awareness of relevant state programs in Colorado.
Section 4 extends the deadline for the energy code board to
develop a model low energy and carbon code and specifies that the model
low energy and carbon code can include appendices and resources to the
international energy conservation code.
Section 5 decreases the amount of money the Colorado energy
office can issue in grants to local governments to support their adoption
and enforcement of the 2021 international energy conservation code, an
electric ready and solar ready code, and a low energy and carbon code by
$125,000 and increases the amount the treasurer is required to transfer
into the energy fund to $275,000.
Section 6 clarifies that, for purposes of the industrial clean energy
tax credit, an industrial study includes a pre-front-end or front-end
engineering design study that meets or exceeds the standards established
by the Colorado energy office or any other industrial studies as outlined
in program standards, and that an owner includes a project developer.
Section 6 also increases the amount of the credit that can be claimed to
$8 million, and specifies that an owner that claims the industrial clean
energy tax credit cannot, for the same greenhouse gas emission reduction
improvements, claim the enterprise zone investment tax credit or receive
grant money under the industrial and manufacturing operations clean air
grant program.
Section 7 clarifies several definitions related to the tax credit for
expenditures made in connection with a geothermal energy project and
adds several definitions. Section 7 also adds tribal governments as
eligible taxpayers pursuant to the tax credit.
Section 8 adds tribal governments as qualified entities pursuant to
the geothermal electricity generation production tax credit, and requires
the Colorado energy office to annually review and evaluate the
effectiveness of the tax credit.
Section 9 clarifies the definition of air-source heat pump system
pursuant to the heat pump technology and thermal energy network tax
credit and allows the Colorado energy office to review and modify more
credit amounts and create certificate maximums related to the heat pump
technology and thermal energy network tax credit.
Section 10 clarifies that certain provisions related to the clean
hydrogen tax credit are subject to rules adopted by the public utilities
commission.
Section 11 advances the deadline by which the treasurer must
repay all administrative costs to the industrial and manufacturing
operations clean air grant program cash fund, the geothermal energy grant
fund, the community access to electric bicycles cash fund, and the
electrifying school buses grant program cash fund to June 30, 2024.
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