Bill > HB1226

This bill aims to manage emissions from certain electric generating units in Colorado, particularly those that may operate past their originally scheduled closure dates due to federal orders. It requires that "covered electric generating units" – defined as units emitting 200 tons or more of nitrogen oxides (NOx) or sulfur dioxide (SO2) in 2024, unless they burn only natural gas or fuel oil, or already have advanced pollution control systems – must install and operate specific pollution control technologies, such as selective catalytic reduction for NOx and flue gas desulfurization or dry spray absorbers for SO2, by December 31, 2034, or cease operations. The bill mandates that the state's Division of Administration propose rules for these emission limits by July 2029, with compliance required after December 31, 2034, and requires owners or operators to submit quarterly reports demonstrating compliance. Furthermore, utilities evaluating the operation of these units after 2034 must include the costs of compliance in their resource plans, and investor-owned utilities may use securitization, a low-cost financing tool, to recover these costs. The bill also requires the Public Utilities Commission to ensure that approved resource plans enable utilities to reliably meet their clean energy targets and retirement plans, even when facing federal orders that might extend the life of older plants.