Senate committee advances bill to label nuclear a "clean energy" resource; HB10-40 moves to committee of the whole, 6-3

House Bill 10‑40, a proposal to add nuclear energy to Colorado’s statutory definition of “clean energy resource,” advanced out of the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee on a 6–3 vote after nearly four hours of testimony and multiple panels of supporters and opponents.

Supporters said the bill would allow communities and utilities to consider modern nuclear options—including small modular reactors—when planning ways to replace retiring coal plants and meet future demand. Opponents said the bill would divert policy attention and public funds away from proven renewables and raise unresolved safety, waste and cost questions.

The bill’s sponsors framed the measure as a narrow, technical change: it would add nuclear power to the list of technologies in Colorado statute (section 40‑2‑125.5) that are treated as “clean energy” for purposes of planning and compliance, not as a mandate to build new reactors. Senator Liston, who opened the presentation to the committee, said HB10‑40 “just adds nuclear energy to the statute definitions of clean energy” and emphasized that “this is not a mandate nor does it require that a city or utility to use nuclear energy.”

Why it matters: proponents argued that designating nuclear as a clean energy resource would let communities and utilities consider advanced…