Colorado 2022 Microgrid Legislation

In June 2022, Colorado enacted two microgrid-focused laws, HB1013 and HB1249. HB 1013 appropriates $3.5 million to create a Microgrids for Community Resilience Grant Program. A cooperative electric association or a municipally owned utility may apply for a grant award to finance microgrid resources for eligible rural communities within the utility’s service territory. HB 1249 requires the Colorado Energy Office to develop a grid resilience and reliability roadmap, including guidance on how microgrids may be used to improve grid resilience and reliability and help serve communities’ electricity needs independent of the grid. The roadmap may identify critical facilities and infrastructure as well as high risk communities to prioritize, and provide recommendations regarding potential legislative or administrative changes needed to help facilitate projects.