Colorado § 29-12.5-103 - Financing energy cost-savings measures - exception to debt limitations.

§ 29-12.5-103. Financing energy cost-savings measures - exception to debt limitations.

(1) If the board, after receiving the analysis and recommendations pursuant to section 29-12.5-102, finds that the amount of money the political subdivision would spend on such energy saving measures is not likely to exceed the amount of money it would save in energy costs over the term of the contract, the board may:

(a) Enter into an energy cost-savings contract with any architect, professional engineer, or other person experienced in the design and implementation of energy saving measures for buildings or other facilities owned or rented by the political subdivision, with any person or entity experienced in the calculation and analysis of vehicle fleet operational and fuel cost savings, or with the entity or person who performed the energy analysis and provided recommendations pursuant to section 29-12.5-102; or

(b) Otherwise incur indebtedness to finance energy saving measures.

(2) (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (2):

(I) No contract entered into or indebtedness incurred pursuant to this section shall constitute or give rise to an indebtedness within the meaning of any constitutional, statutory, or home rule debt limitation; and

(II) Any contract may be entered into and indebtedness incurred without approval of the qualified electors of the political subdivision.

(b) Paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) shall not apply to any indebtedness incurred by contract or otherwise under this section which exceeds or which causes the total outstanding indebtedness so incurred to exceed the following percentage of the latest valuation for assessment of the taxable property in the political subdivision:

(I) One percent for a school district;

(II) One-tenth of one percent for a county, except a home rule county;

(III) One-fifth of one percent for a home rule county; or

(IV) One-fifth of one percent for a municipality.

(3) When an energy saving measure involves a cogeneration system, the sale of excess cogenerated energy shall be subject to the same state and federal regulatory requirements as the sale of all other cogenerated energy.

Source: L. 91: Entire article added, p. 731, § 1, effective May 1. L. 2001: (1) and (3) amended, p. 1096, § 7, effective August 8. L. 2013: (1) and (3) amended, (SB 13-254), ch. 403, p. 2365, § 7, effective June 5.