Bipartisan bill recognizes nuclear as a clean energy source in Colorado

 A bill introduced for the third consecutive legislative session, this time with bipartisan support, could change the way Coloradans approach energy use in the future.

House Bill 25-1040, sponsored in the House by Denver Democrat Alex Valdez and Pueblo Republican Ty Winter and in the Senate by Frisco Democrat Dylan Roberts and Colorado Springs Republican Larry Liston would add nuclear power to the state’s definition of “clean energy.”

The bill was introduced on Jan. 8 and assigned to the House Energy and Environment Committee, which Valdez chairs.

The designation is important as under current statute those forms of energy officially classified as clean energy are the only types eligible for what the bill summary refers to as “clean energy project financing” at the county and city level.

It also determines which energy resources may be used by a qualifying retail utility to meet Governor Polis’ lofty, and ever-increasingly expensive goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

If passed it would mark a major legislative shift on energy policy by majority Democrats, who have to this point avoided conversations about nuclear as a clean energy option...

“I think there has been a vibe shift – even in Colorado – where Democrats are realizing that the sudden spike in electricity demand from (new electric mandates) is putting pressure on the grid,” Fogleman said. “An epiphany of ‘oh yes maybe we should include the most reliable form of energy in our portfolio.’”...