Senate Bill 23-198 Summary

• Requires electric utilities, wholesale power marketers, and new electric utilities to submit clean energy plans to the Division demonstrating at least 80% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 relative to 2005 levels for their Colorado retail electricity sales.

• Establishes Division verification requirements for clean energy plans submitted on or after July 1, 2023, including independent confirmation of emissions data accuracy and public stakeholder meetings for non-regulated utilities.

• Mandates interim 46% emissions reduction target by 2027 for clean energy plans submitted on or after January 1, 2024, if achievable while maintaining reliability and limiting incremental annual costs to 2.5% of total system costs.

• Creates enforcement mechanism requiring the Commission to adopt rules limiting greenhouse gas emissions if entities fail to submit plans or achieve required reductions, with final compliance deadlines by December 31, 2029.

• Appropriates $276,384 for the 2023-24 fiscal year to the Department of Public Health and Environment and Department of Law to implement verification and enforcement provisions.