Senator Kipp and Senator Simpson, co-prime sponsors, introduced and explained House Bill 25-1165 Geologic Storage Enterprise & Geothermal Resources. The bill creates an enterprise to support geologic storage operations and updates regulations for certain geothermal resources. The sponsors distributed a fact sheet on the bill (Attachment A). The sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Aaron Ray, representing Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. Mike Rigby, representing Energy & Carbon Management Commission, Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. Kevin Donegan, representing Division of Water Resources, Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. Sara Orrange, representing Clean Air Task Force and Colorado Water Congress, testified in support of the bill.

Brien Webster, representing Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mayor John Clark, representing Colorado Communities for Climate Action and Town of Ridgway, testified in support of the bill. Christopher Neidl, representing The Direct Air Capture Coalition, testified in support of the bill. Quinn Antus, representing Colorado Energy Office, testified in support of the bill.

Benjamin Boudreaux, representing Department of Law, was available to answer committee questions.

Written testimony is included as Attachment B.

The sponsors distributed and described Amendments L.015 (Attachment C), L.016 (Attachment D), and L.017 (Attachment E).

The sponsors gave closing comments on the bill.