CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRAM TO DEMONSTRATE THE
USE OF BREAKTHROUGH ADVANCED COAL TECHNOLOGY TO PROMOTE
LOW-EMITTING COAL-FUELED ELECTRICITY GENERATION.

(excerpts from HB06-1281)

SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that the deployment of advanced coal technologies, such as integrated gasification combined cycle technology, may have significant environmental benefits over conventional coal-fired electric generating technologies. In addition, the deployment of advanced coal technologies may allow the state's electric utilities to generate electricity from western coal resources with greater thermal efficiency, less consumption of water, lower emissions including decreased emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, and reduced costs of complying with existing and future environmental protections. Because such advanced coal technologies involve risks and uncertainties that inhibit rapid commercialization, it is in the public interest of the state to support the deployment of breakthrough integrated gasification combined cycle electric generation facilities that utilize Colorado or other western coal and that capture and sequester carbon dioxide emissions.

SECTION 2. 40-2-123, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read [in part]:
40-2-123. New energy technologies - consideration by commission - incentives - demonstration projects. (1) The commission shall give the fullest possible consideration to the cost-effective implementation of new clean energy and energy-efficient technologies in its consideration of generation acquisitions for electric utilities, bearing in mind the beneficial contributions such technologies make to Colorado's energy security, economic prosperity, environmental protection, and insulation from fuel price increases. The commission shall consider utility investments in energy efficiency to be an acceptable use of ratepayer
moneys.

(2)(a) THE COMMISSION SHALL CONSIDER PROPOSALS BY COLORADO ELECTRIC UTILITIES TO PROPOSE, FUND, AND CONSTRUCT INTEGRATED GASIFICATION COMBINED CYCLE GENERATION FACILITIES TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGY WITH THE USE OF WESTERN COAL AND WITH CARBON DIOXIDE CAPTURE AND SEQUESTRATION. . . .