HB 1337

This bill establishes Colorado's framework for developing nuclear energy by designating the Colorado Energy Office as the state's permitting coordinator for nuclear projects and setting ambitious development goals. The legislation requires the state's largest investor-owned utility (over 500,000 customers) to solicit community interest in hosting nuclear facilities by August 2027 and allows utilities to recover up to $20 million in costs for feasibility studies and site development activities. The bill sets statewide targets of identifying at least one nuclear project site by 2035 and beginning construction by 2040, while mandating that the Public Utilities Commission expedite approval decisions on cost-recovery petitions within six months to accelerate nuclear energy development in Colorado.