C.R.S. Section 23-31-317
Biomass utilization study

  • legislative declaration
  • report
  • definitions
  • repeal

(1)

The general assembly:

(a)

Finds and determines that:

(I)

Three of the largest wildfires in Colorado’s history occurred in 2020, with more than six hundred twenty-five thousand acres burned across the state;

(II)

It is estimated that two hundred fourteen million dollars was spent in Colorado in 2020 to fight forest fires;

(III)

With almost three million people in Colorado residing in the wildland-urban interface, these wildfires threaten human life as well as private property, public infrastructure, and the environment;

(IV)

The forest service has implemented a number of strategies to help mitigate the risk of wildfire, including engaging in educational outreach, providing technical assistance to communities in the WUI with the development of community wildfire protection plans, and treating forested lands to reduce the amount of fuel;

(V)

One promising strategy for wildfire mitigation is to increase the utilization of biomass to reduce fuel; and

(VI)

Increased biomass utilization would provide other environmental benefits such as:

(A)

Using biomass for electric and heat generation as a means to further diversify Colorado’s renewable energy portfolio and, in furtherance of the governor’s “Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap” released on January 14, 2021, provide a carbon-neutral alternative energy source to fossil fuels; and

(B)

Applying biochar to soil as a means to improve soil health and provide carbon sequestration; and

(b)

Declares that it is in the interest of the state for the forest service to administer a grant program to demonstrate biomass utilization as a means to innovate wildfire mitigation, renewable energy development, soil health, climate change mitigation, and carbon sequestration.

(2)

As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)

“Biochar” means a charcoal that is produced by pyrolysis of biomass and is used as a soil amendment.

(b)

“Biomass” has the meaning set forth in section 40-2-124 (1)(a)(I).

(c)

“Forest service” has the meaning set forth in section 23-31-310 (2)(c).

(d)

“Fuel” has the meaning set forth in section 23-31-310 (2)(d).

(e)

“Pyrolysis” has the meaning set forth in section 40-2-124 (1)(a)(V).

(f)

“Wildland-urban interface” or “WUI” has the meaning set forth in section 23-31-310 (2)(f).

(3)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The biomass utilization grant program is created to demonstrate the utilization of biomass throughout the state. The forest service, at the discretion of the state forester, may implement the grant program by awarding up to two million five hundred thousand dollars in grants for proposed projects that seek to demonstrate the following regarding biomass utilization:

(I)

Wildfire prevention and mitigation benefits derived from its utilization;

(II)

Energy benefits derived from increasing biomass energy generation; or

(III)

Agricultural benefits from increasing its usage as biochar.

(b)

The forest service, at the discretion of the state forester, may administer the grant program using money in the healthy forests and vibrant communities fund created in section 23-31-313 (10) and any gifts, grants, or donations received. The forest service may seek and expend gifts, grants, and donations to finance the biomass utilization grant program.

(4)

On or before March 1, 2023, and on or before each March 1 after a year in which the forest service awards one or more grants under the biomass utilization grant program, the forest service shall submit a report describing each project for which it has awarded a grant in the previous year, including a description of the type of biomass utilization that the project demonstrates, the geographic area served by the project, and the amount awarded for the project, to the governor and the agriculture, livestock, and water committee of the house of representatives and the agriculture and natural resources committee of the senate, or any successor committees. The forest service shall post the report on its website.

(5)

This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2026. Before the repeal, this section is scheduled for review in accordance with section 24-34-104.

Source: Section 23-31-317 — Biomass utilization study - legislative declaration - report - definitions - repeal, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-23.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

23‑31‑101
University established - role and mission 23‑31‑102
Name changed 23‑31‑103
Board to control college and lands 23‑31‑104
Who shall constitute faculty 23‑31‑105
Duty of faculty 23‑31‑106
President - duties 23‑31‑107
President may remove officers 23‑31‑108
President may be professor 23‑31‑109
Report of experimental operations 23‑31‑110
Pledge of income from facilities or equipment 23‑31‑111
Rents or charges for buildings and facilities for research 23‑31‑112
Research building revolving fund - appropriation of fund 23‑31‑113
Anticipation warrants 23‑31‑114
Purchase of anticipation warrants 23‑31‑115
Warrants as security - when 23‑31‑116
Tax exemption 23‑31‑117
Borrowing funds 23‑31‑118
Advancement of moneys and pledge of income 23‑31‑119
Plant breeding programs 23‑31‑120
Cooperation with other agencies 23‑31‑121
Providing personnel, supplies 23‑31‑122
Agricultural extension service furnished counties 23‑31‑201
Transfer to board of governors of the Colorado state university system - exceptions 23‑31‑202
Powers and duties of board of governors of the Colorado state university system 23‑31‑205
Provisions of act of congress accepted 23‑31‑206
Cooperative agreements 23‑31‑207
Employees and personnel 23‑31‑208
Rights by succession to state board of land commissioners - transfers to division of fire prevention and control 23‑31‑301
Legislative declaration 23‑31‑302
Forestry function named 23‑31‑303
Funds available 23‑31‑310
Forest restoration and wildfire risk mitigation grant program - technical advisory panel - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal 23‑31‑311
Watershed protection projects and forest health projects 23‑31‑312
Community wildfire protection plans - biomass utilization plans - county governments - guidelines and criteria - legislative declaration - definitions 23‑31‑313
Healthy forests - vibrant communities - funds created - outreach working group - legislative declaration - definition - repeal 23‑31‑316
Colorado forest health council - legislative declaration - repeal 23‑31‑317
Biomass utilization study - legislative declaration - report - definitions - repeal 23‑31‑318
Wildfire mitigation incentives for local governments - grant awards - fund - reporting - definitions - repeal 23‑31‑319
Forest service seedling tree nursery - necessary upgrades and improvements - definition - funding - reports - repeal 23‑31‑320
Timber, forest health, and wildfire mitigation industries workforce development program - creation - policies and procedures - legislative declaration - definitions 23‑31‑401
Definitions 23‑31‑402
Owner’s permission required - when 23‑31‑403
Proof of ownership required - when 23‑31‑404
Violation - penalty - defense 23‑31‑501
Acceptance of congressional grant of 1862 23‑31‑502
Board of governors of the Colorado state university system to control fund 23‑31‑503
Acceptance of congressional act of 1883 23‑31‑504
Control, investment, and expending of funds 23‑31‑505
Other funds - investment 23‑31‑506
Report on condition - appropriation 23‑31‑507
Management of funds 23‑31‑508
Purpose of sections 23‑31‑509
Acceptance of congressional act of 1928 23‑31‑510
Control of funds 23‑31‑511
Congressional act of 1914 accepted 23‑31‑512
Board to receive and expend funds 23‑31‑513
Acceptance of congressional act of 1935 23‑31‑514
Control of funds from 1935 act 23‑31‑601
Acceptance of congressional act of 1862 23‑31‑602
Control of fund 23‑31‑603
Acceptance of congressional act of 1906 23‑31‑604
Board to control fund 23‑31‑605
Board to cooperate with counties 23‑31‑606
Employees and specialists 23‑31‑607
Stations established 23‑31‑608
Board to secure lands 23‑31‑609
Board to supervise 23‑31‑610
Objects of stations 23‑31‑611
Proceeds from station 23‑31‑612
Expenses - how paid 23‑31‑701
Short title 23‑31‑702
Acknowledgment of related federal laws 23‑31‑703
Responsibility and objectives 23‑31‑704
Organization - cooperative relationships 23‑31‑705
Authority to accomplish purposes of part 23‑31‑706
Reporting and accountability 23‑31‑707
Colorado AgrAbility project - extension program - creation - appropriation - legislative declaration 23‑31‑801
Colorado water institute - creation 23‑31‑802
Advisory committee on water research policy 23‑31‑803
Water research fund 23‑31‑804
Republican river groundwater economic study - reporting - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal 23‑31‑901
Legislative declaration 23‑31‑902
Annual project report - national western center trust fund - creation - use 23‑31‑903
Authorization for financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements 23‑31‑904
Cooperative agreements for regional economic development not limited 23‑31‑905
National western center partnership - open meetings and open records laws apply - audit 23‑31‑1001
Legislative declaration 23‑31‑1002
Definitions 23‑31‑1003
State veterinary education loan repayment council - creation - membership 23‑31‑1004
State veterinary education loan repayment program - creation - purpose 23‑31‑1005
Council powers and duties 23‑31‑1006
Program applicant eligibility - criteria 23‑31‑1007
Designated veterinary shortage areas - criteria 23‑31‑1008
Release from contract obligation 23‑31‑1009
Loan repayment 23‑31‑1010
Veterinary education loan repayment fund - creation - gifts, grants, and donations 23‑31‑1101
Legislative declaration 23‑31‑1102
Colorado food systems advisory council - created - membership - terms - vacancies 23‑31‑1103
Council - purpose and duties 23‑31‑1104
Subcommittees of the council 23‑31‑1105
Fund - acceptance of gifts, grants, or donations 23‑31‑1106
Reports - recommendations 23‑31‑1107
Repeal of part
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 23-31-317’s source at colorado​.gov