As the urgency of the climate crisis intensifies, bold policy measures and strategic utility leadership have become essential tools in the transition to a low-carbon future. In this article, we highlight just a handful of insights from recent legislation and utility filings that exemplify how public policy and the energy sector are working to meet climate goals, accelerate the clean energy transition, and deliver benefits to the public.

Colorado Moves to Protect and Conserve Water Resources

HB25-1113: Limit Turf in New Residential Development

Amidst growing uncertainty at the federal level, several bills were passed this past legislative cycle that will protect and conserve Colorado’s water resources. Building on Senate Bill 24-005, passed in 2024, House Bill 25-1113 aims to further promote water conservation across Colorado by restricting the installation of non-functional turf at multifamily and residential properties by Jan 1, 2028.

HB25-1211: Tap Fees Imposed by Special Districts

Additionally, House Bill 25-1211 is another piece of legislation introduced in 2025, focusing on the regulation of tap fees charged by water districts. The bill requires special districts to consider water conservation-oriented taps fees to promote water efficiency, as well as ensuring tap fees are equitable and reflective of actual service .

New Mexico Establishes Funding for Local Resilience

Senate Bill 48: Creating the Community Benefit Fund

One major resilience-related milestone to celebrate is New Mexico’s Senate Bill 48, the Community Benefit Fund, a new $210 million fund designed to support communities in addressing climate change impacts. The fund will help communities implement projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, modernize the electric grid, increase energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption, decarbonize the transportation system, reduce the impacts of climate change on the environment and humans, and foster economic development and workforce development.

Colorado Accelerates Adoption for Regionally Specific Building Codes

SB25-002: Regional Building Codes for Factory-Built Structures

Senate Bill 25-002 intends to help accelerate the adoption of modular construction by removing process barriers and establishing regionally-specific building codes that take into account local climate conditions. The bill empowers the State Housing Board to develop regional building codes tailored to local climates and conditions by July 1, 2026, removing overlapping jurisdiction from the plumbing, electrical, and fire boards for factory-built structures. It also reallocates $600,000 from the Innovative Housing Incentive Program to the Building Regulation Fund to support implementation activities like code development and plan reviews starting July 1 of this year.

Colorado to Set Minimum Standards for EV Charging

HB25-1267: Support for Statewide Energy Strategies

House Bill 25-1267 includes a couple notable electric vehicle (EV) items. The first directs Colorado’s Division of Oil and Public Safety to adopt and enforce rules concerning retail EV charging on or before July 1, 2026, in consultation with the Colorado Energy Office, and begin enforcing the rules by July 1, 2027. The second part of the law creates an EV grant fund to help the Colorado Energy Office cover the costs of supporting the development and enforcement of these rules.

The bill stipulates that “the rules must set forth minimum standards relating to specifications and tolerances for retail EV charging equipment and methods of retail sale at publicly accessible EV charging stations to promote consistency in the marketplace.” But what does this mean for EV drivers and charging operators? Gas stations have a long history of safety and consumer protection protocols to protect drivers filling up their tanks. For example, to ensure consumers receive the correct amount of gas indicated on the pump, several regulations and enforcement mechanisms are in place guided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). As a result of this law, the State will develop similar rules for chargers and operators to protect EV drivers. For example, the rules could ensure that the displayed kWh dispensed on a charger is the actual kWh received by the EV so that the customer is not over or under charged for electricity.

Utah Collaborates to Increase Renewable Energy

Following nearly 5 years of negotiation and collaboration with 19 Utah communities, Rocky Mountain Power filed the Program Application to the Public Service Commission on behalf of the 19 local governments participating in Utah Renewable Communities (URC). If approved, the program will encourage new clean energy options for eligible customers at an affordable price. Costs will be determined as the program is approved with funds being used to acquire new clean energy sources and increasing energy generation. Follow the progress at Docket No: 25-035-06 | Public Service Commission.