Colorado’s PUC Sunset Bill Lost Its Worst Provisions
With less than a week to go in the legislative session, HB26-1326, the bill to reauthorize the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, passed its final House reading today, 43 Yes to 22 No, and was assigned to Senate Finance this afternoon. The bill began as an expansive power grab, though its worst provisions were trimmed in […]
Colorado Springs Utilities Coal Plant May Get Stay of Execution
Last week, Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) earned a likely stay of execution for its Ray Nixon coal plant. It came in the form of a surprise compromise bill pushed by environmental groups meant to head off more sweeping relief. The bill, SB26-182, would allow a three-year extension of the retirement of the coal unit until […]
Legislature Might Do Something Half-Good for Geothermal Energy
Colorado’s legislature rarely offers energy bills worthy of praise. Senate Bill 26-142, which passed the Senate on Wednesday and now heads to the House, is half of an exception for geothermal energy. Geothermal energy harnesses heat from underground to generate electricity and provide heating and cooling. Unlike wind and solar, it’s dispatchable and carbon-free, which […]
Testimony on the Sunset Review of the Public Utilities Commission
The Independence Institute has submitted written testimony on HB26-1326, “Sunset Review of the Public Utilities Commission,” which will be heard in the Colorado House Energy & Environment Committee tomorrow, April 24, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., pending any further schedule changes. Unfortunately, the bill will make the PUC less transparent and accountable, as well as cement […]
Testimony on HB26-1030, Data Center & Utility Modernization
The Independence Institute submitted written testimony on HB26-1030, “Data Center & Utility Modernization,” which will be heard in the Colorado House Energy & Environment Committee tomorrow, April 24, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., pending any further schedule changes. Update 4/23/2026: Consideration of HB26-1030 was (not all that surprisingly) postponed to an unspecified date. The sunset review of […]
Testimony on Bill to Implement Consumer-Regulated Electricity
On Thursday, March 12, 2026, Independence Institute Energy Policy Analyst Sarah Montalbano testified in favor of consumer-regulated electric utilities (CREUs) in the Colorado House Energy & Environment Committee. The bill would allow the development of CREUs, which serve new large electricity loads through systems that are physically islanded from the existing grid. These projects would […]
More energy bills with bigger stakes
In early February, Independence Institute’s Energy & Environmental Policy Center flagged the early energy bills introduced in the Colorado legislature. As we enter March, some bills have had hearings and their fates decided. Here’s where things stand. Early casualties in committee hearings include SB26-033, which would have added some pre-permitting requirements and grid reliability statements […]
Bad and Worse for Data Centers in Colorado
Denver just added a new layer to an already hostile environment for data centers. This week, Mayor Mike Johnston and members of the Denver City Council announced that they intend to file a moratorium on new data center construction in the city. The moratorium is expected to last for “several months,” or perhaps longer, while […]
Energy & Environmental Policy Center’s Testimony on Bill to Exempt Residential Customers from Clean Heat Plan Emissions Standards
On Thursday, February 19, 2026, Independence Institute Energy Policy Analyst Sarah Montalbano testified in the Colorado House Energy & Environment Committee. The bill would have exempted residential natural gas customers from the emissions calculations in gas utility Clean Heat Plans filed with the Public Utilities Commission. It would have been welcome relief for natural gas […]
Early Energy Rumblings from the Colorado Legislature
The Colorado legislature is putting some energy hearings on the board for February, and 13 energy bills have been filed so far. Here is what the Independence Institute is watching. SB26-028, “Removal of Wind Energy from State Energy Goals,” is going to be heard Wednesday, February 18, in Senate Transportation and Energy committee. The bill […]
Powering Data Centers Out of Colorado
By Sarah Montalbano Legislators in Denver are off to the races this session with a heavy-handed bill that will chase data center investment out of Colorado. The bill, HB26-1030, creates a new bureaucracy, imposes burdensome labor and workforce requirements, and requires data centers to use 100% clean energy. If lawmakers believe data centers are “essential […]
The Truth About Energy in Polis’ State of the State
By Sarah Montalbano Governor Jared Polis addressed the General Assembly in his final State of the State address last week. Polis repeatedly invoked his efforts to build “low-cost clean energy,” but it’s the very same wind, solar, battery storage, and electric vehicles that will make higher energy prices for Coloradans his legacy. Between January 2019, […]
