The 2022 session of the Colorado General Assembly included a variety of important legislation designed to encourage the use of renewable energy, cut carbon emissions, incentivize electrification and add more efficiency to buildings and vehicles. These are some of the major bills passed. A variety of our partner organizations, including the Colorado Renewable Energy Society and the Colorado Solar and Storage Association, played an active role in communicating with lawmakers.

SB22-193- Air Quality Improvement Investments – This measure provides funding to the Colorado Energy Office for energy efficiency, renewable energy and electric vehicle programs, including $65 million to buy electric school buses, $12 million for bike programs and $25 million for industry to adopt efficiency measures.

HB22-1362 Building Greenhouse Gas Emissions This measure will require cities and counties to adopt stronger building codes when they update their rules. It requires the Colorado energy office to identify language for model codes that will encourage solar-ready construction, encourage low-energy construction and encourage green building. It will also create grant programs to encourage efficient electric heating and appliances and electrification for public buildings. 

SB22-051 Policies To Reduce Emissions From Built Environment The bill provides 10% tax credits for purchases of air-source and ground-source heat pump systems and exempts them from state sales taxes. It also creates tax credits for energy storage systems.

HB22-1249 Electric Grid Resilience And Reliability Roadmap - The bill creates a roadmap for improving electric grids in the state. It will include: the potential benefits of developing microgrids, potential threats to grid reliability and recommendations for improvements to facilitate microgrids.

HB22-1218 – Resource Efficiency Buildings Electric Vehicles – This measure requires commercial and multifamily buildings to include electric vehicle charging capability. The requirements for charging and conduits allowing EV equipment to be installed vary by building size.

HB22-1355 Producer Responsibility Program For Recycling – The bill sets up a program to expand recycling statewide, paid by producers of packaging materials and paper products. The program would be run by a nonprofit and cover residences, business, schools and other public places.