Colorado Revised Statutes Title 40. Utilities § 40-9.8-102. Legislative declaration

(a) Severe weather or natural disaster events can affect an electric utility's ability to deliver uninterrupted electricity throughout its service territory, particularly in rural areas;

(b) In the rural areas of the state in which many cooperative electric associations operate, interruptions in the delivery of electric service present significant threats to the community anchor institutions located in those areas;

(c) Use of microgrids can help increase a community's resilience regarding severe weather or natural disaster events that can affect the electric grid by providing the community with an alternative, reliable source of electricity that is not dependent on the electric grid;

(d) Many rural communities lack the resources necessary to develop microgrids; and

(e) Through grants made to cooperative electric associations and municipally owned utilities, associations and municipally owned utilities can invest in microgrid resources in eligible rural communities within their service territories that are at significant risk of severe weather or natural disaster events.