DENVER – On Wed., Aug. 31, the Commission will have a special public comment hearing from 11 a.m.- noon. The Air Pollution Control Division (Division) of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will provide comments regarding their development of expected greenhouse gas accounting procedures intended to be used by utilities when creating clean heat plan filings.
What are Clean Heat Plans?
In 2021, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 21-264 which directed the Commission to create rules that require gas distribution utilities to file Clean Heat Plans and take other actions to reduce carbon emissions. In response, the Commission opened Proceeding 21R-0449G in October 2021, and issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (Decision No. C21-0610). The Commission has since held multiple workshops and public comment hearings. Because of new legislation, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission will adopt rules imposing requirements for gas utilities to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from distributing gas to customers and from how customers use gas in homes and buildings.
Gas utility companies are now required to submit Clean Heat Plans to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission beginning in 2023. The plan must demonstrate how the gas utility will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by four percent in 2025, and 22 percent by 2030, based on a 2015 baseline. Plans can include numerous options to meet requirements. (For more information on Clean Heat Plans, click here: puc.colorado.gov/cleanheatplans)
In accordance with Senate Bill 21-264, the Commission is consulting with CDPHE in developing procedures for estimating reductions of greenhouse gas and other emission pollutants for portfolios submitted by a gas utility in a clean heat plan. The Aug. 31 public comment hearing will focus on these efforts.
A second public comment meeting will be held on Sept. 19, at 9 a.m. At the Sept. 19 public comment meeting, the Commission invites and encourages oral comments from the public. Additional information for the Sept. 19 meeting is forthcoming.
You can submit written or verbal comments at any time the proceeding is open by:
- Submitting written comments through the Commission’s Electronic Filing System (E-Filings) at https://www.dora.state.co.us/pls/efi/EFI.homepage.
- Submitting written comments using the Commission’s online formor through email at dora_puc_website@state.co.us. These comments will be posted in E-Filings for this Proceeding.
- Mailing comments to the Commission’s offices at: Colorado Public Utilities Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, CO 80202.
- Calling (303) 869-3490 to leave oral comments (English and Spanish options).
Please include “Proceeding No. 21R-0449G” in public comments.