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Senate adopts optional program to spur renewable projects on disturbed lands, approves amendment to public-process rule
Summary
The Senate adopted House Bill 12-68 to create an optional local-government tool for redeveloping previously disturbed lands for renewable energy and approved Amendment L5 to preserve a public permitting process rather than an administrative preapproval requirement.
The Colorado Senate on April 9 passed House Bill 12-68, an optional program that allows local governments to designate previously disturbed lands — such as brownfields, capped landfills and former mining sites — as renewable energy reinvestment areas to support new clean-energy projects.
Senator Linstead (speaker 16), sponsor of the bill on the floor, described the measure as voluntary for local governments and intended to provide financial tools to make otherwise challenging sites available for renewable energy projects. "Think brownfields, cap landfills, mining-affected areas, formal and gas sites, so that they can have the financial tools they need to utilize those sites to create energy independence for our state," Linstead said.
An amendment at the desk, L5, was read and adopted before final passage. Senator Palden (speaker 6) explained that L5 removes a requirement for local permitting entities to use an administrative approval process before eligible projects can be permitted and constructed, preserving a public permitting process where the public can engage.
The amendment L5 carried by voice vote, and the Senate adopted the bill as amended. Sponsors characterized the bill as an optional tool to expand renewable energy deployment while protecting local public engagement in permitting.
What happens next: The bill moves forward on the legislative calendar for engrossment and further consideration as required by statute and the rules of the General Assembly.
