.png){kind=logo}
(Jan. 17) – The House Energy and Environment Committee approved two renewable energy and water conservation related bills today, the first step in the House Democrats’ commitment to protecting our unique quality of life.
“Deploying more renewable energy in Colorado is good for our economy and good for our planet,” said Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver. “It will put more money back into the pockets of Coloradans and ensure we protect our unique environment and quality of life.”
HB19-1003 will expand access to renewable energy for communities and individuals across Colorado. It will update Colorado’s community solar statute to allow customers to benefit from clean, low-cost energy even if they don’t have a rooftop solar option.
The bill passed on a bipartisan vote of 7-3 and now heads to Appropriations Committee.
The committee also approved Rep. Brianna Titone’s first bill this session on water conservation. HB19-1050 will help promote water-efficient landscaping on property subject to management by local supervisory entities.
“In many homeowners associations, water is about a third of their budget,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “It is very important that we are being responsible with the usage of our water, especially on the Front Range and in our rural communities who have been hit hard by the ongoing drought.”
Even as Colorado and other western states suffer from drought and severe water shortages, members of homeowners associations as well as residents of some metropolitan special districts often pay exorbitant water bills to satisfy requirements in their by-laws. By-laws can be written in a way that makes changing them time-consuming, burdensome, and cost prohibitive for an association or district. Allowing homeowner associations and special district boards to modify their master landscaping plans, will save water and lower costs.
HB19-1050 passed by a bipartisan vote of 8-2. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.