By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics
A measure aimed at easing some of the near-term requirements from a 2021 law that seeks to reduce greenhouse emissions is facing opposition from the industry it claims to be assisting, with businesses noting the bill allows for tens of millions of dollars in fines.
House Bill 1269, sponsored by Reps. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, and Alex Valdez, D-Denver, seeks to ease some of the requirements outlined in a 2021 law, which established the building performance program in the Colorado Energy Office. Under that bill, buildings over 50,000 square feet, which amounts to about 8,300 buildings statewide, are required to achieve a 7% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2026.
After hearing from building owners who argued that the standards would be difficult to implement by 2026, lawmakers are considering designate the deadline as a “goal,” rather than as a requirement.
Notably, House Bill 1269 requires buildings to reduce emissions by 13% compared to 2019 benchmarks, rather than a 7% reduction from 2021 levels.