Colorado

COLORADO

Colorado, like most other states, is getting hotter and dryer. In May, 2021, NOAA released new data, showing Colorado Springs and Denver with the greatest increases.

In 2019, Governor Jared Polis began creating plans for Colorado to wean itself off fossil-fuel energy use, replacing it with renewable sources, and drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in the coming years. In May of that year, Polis signed into law the Climate Action Plan To Reduce Pollution. That and the “Colorado Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap” (CGGPRR), also issued by the governor, set goals of reducing emissions from 2005 levels by at least 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050. “This is our plan for creating a pathway to 100 percent renewable energy in our state, creating good green jobs that can never be outsourced, and saving people money on electricity,” Governor Jared Polis said in a press release from 2019. “The roadmap is not just about a vision, but includes concrete steps that will help us reap the economic benefits of renewable energy, curb pollution of our air, and fight climate change.”

According to the EIA, by 2020 Colorado’s net generation from coal-fired power plants was already 36%, down from 68%  in 2010. During the same period, Colorado became the 7th natural gas-producing state but also tripled its renewables –led by wind and solar– accounting for 30% of the state’s total generation.

Polis’ legislation  demonstrates its particular concerns with air pollution and health by addressing transportation and buildings — the biggest consumer sectors in Colorado accounting for 29.3 % and 27.6 % of the state’s energy consumption respectively.–a direction bolstered by a sense that the state’s power sector is already headed in the right direction.

By June, 2021, Governor Polis had also signed a bipartisan Energy Transition bill into law that will provide $15 million to help workers and localities dependent on coal transition to a clean energy economy. The money will fund the Office of Just Transition, which was created in 2019 to aid workers and communities dependent on coal as utilities in the state shift toward clean energy.

Colorado utilities are cutting their use of coal, in part due to the legislation requiring the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, but also because of the falling cost of wind and solar. “The key to a truly just transition unlocks new opportunities in more places than ever before — not only to provide jobs, but to support schools, and improve systems that are critical to powering our communities,” Polis said at the bill’s signing. In 2021, NPR’s Steve Inskeep covered a story of a closing coal plant transitioning to a new “kind of renewable energy storage.” It would reuse the steam turbine, the transmission facilities and add a massive tank of salt. When melted, the salt would create steam to run the turbine and generate electricity. Thus, creating power when the grid needed it.

Colorado State University-Pueblo became the first campus in the state to reach net-zero efficiency last week when the school switched on its 23-acre solar array project.

Colorado is one of twenty four states, plus Puerto Rico, committed to the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of governors, created in 2017, committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

CURRENT NEWS

Xcel Energy plan to build 460 EV fast charging stations in Colorado angers retailers, other charging proponents

By Robert Walton 05/25/23
Xcel Energy’s plan to construct 460 direct current fast charger stations in Colorado has angered a coalition of retailers and other businesses that say the stations will discourage competition in the EV charging sector and…
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Colorado’s Big Push on Electric Vehicles Gets Boost From Federal Funds, But It’s Got a Long Way to Go

By Robert Davis 05/19/23
Dale Turnacliff was diagnosed with asthma in 2004 after he moved to Erie, Colorado. He had spent several years in Southern California’s Inland Empire, which these days is full of warehouses and logistics operations, before…
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Two States Are Ramping Up Clean Energy Incentives. That Was the Inflation Reduction Act’s Point

By Kristoffer Tigue 05/19/23
Two states are set to significantly ramp up the financial incentives to adopt renewable energy and electric vehicles under new laws that mimic federal clean energy tax credits provided under the Inflation Reduction Act. It’s…
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Here’s what sets Denver’s mayoral finalists Mike Johnston and Kelly Brough apart on climate change

By Sam Brasch 05/03/23
The lack of discussion makes some sense if you’re a political consultant. When Denverite surveyed more than 100 residents last summer, the environment ranked as the fourth most important issue behind housing affordability, crime and…
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CHI Launches Acclimate Colorado Health And Climate Policy Agenda

04/10/23
The Colorado Health Institute is introducing Colorado’s Health and Climate Policy Agenda to drive policy changes that will help Colorado communities become more resilient in the face of climate change, and to improve health equity…
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A wet winter won’t stave off the Colorado River’s water cuts

By Joshua Partlow 04/03/23
The abundant snow in the Rocky Mountains this year has been a welcome relief, but is not enough to overcome two decades of drought that has pushed major reservoirs along the Colorado River down to…
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Colorado eyes 100% EV goal while aiming to curtail car use

By Jason Plautz 03/29/23
The state's updated electric vehicle plan seeks the deployment of at least 10,000 new electric bikes by 2025 to help replace short car trips.
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Action on climate change excites community

By Gabrielle Franklin 03/17/23
The Environmental Protection Agency just announced $3 million in grant funding coming to the state to help Colorado with air pollution efforts. Leaders and climate activists say it is beyond time for action on climate…
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EPA

EPA with Governor Polis announces $3 million for innovative Climate Pollution projects across the state

By David Piantanida 03/17/23
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Colorado will be receiving up to $3 million to develop innovative strategies to cut climate pollution and build clean energy economies across the state. At the…
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Who gets harmed as the Colorado River changes?

By Jennifer Pitt 03/09/23
National and regional media love a good fight, and lately a day doesn’t pass without a major news story or op-ed focused on Colorado River disagreements, particularly amongst the seven states of the Colorado River…
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Big money coming to Colorado to fight climate change and create jobs

By Alan Gionet 03/02/23
Colorado is going to be getting $13.2 billion in incentive money to spawn the growth of the clean energy industry and reduce carbon emissions....
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The Root of the Colorado River Crisis: Corporate Water Abuse

By Mia Difelice 02/28/23
In 1922, states agreed to allocations of the river’s water in the Colorado River Pact. But in the decades since, climate change has made those allocations unsustainable. In recent years, withdrawals on the River have…
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PLANS TO ACCELERATE RENEWABLES

Ski resorts in Colorado and around the world are embracing a new role: climate activist

03/18/23
While many resorts are focused on reducing their emissions, others are going much further, leveraging their influence to shift public opinion and pass legislation.

Adams County looks to attract solar panel manufacturing plant, 1,000 jobs

03/17/23
Just weeks after beating out the competition for a manufacturing plant making a cutting-edge electric vehicle battery, Adams County is in the running to host a solar panel manufacturing facility that could employ nearly 1,000…

Xcel Energy will cut Colorado bills again in April as natural gas costs continue to fall

03/14/23
While the state’s largest utility is under fire for unsustainable energy bills hitting consumers late in 2022, Xcel has also cut gas costs four times in six months.

‘There’s a real opportunity to make a difference’: Inside Colorado’s plan to expand geothermal energy

03/14/23
In Colorado’s quest to transition to renewable energy, the state’s leaders want to take an old-school approach: Drill, baby, drill.

Colorado Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen: green energy a priority in tour of Colorado School of Mines

03/14/23
The focus was on green energy as Colorado Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen took a tour of the Colorado School of Mines in Golden. While there, the Democrat representing Colorado's 7th Congressional District talked about developing the…

West warms to geothermal energy as a path to clean power goals

03/14/23
In Colorado’s quest to transition to renewable energy, the state’s leaders want to take an old-school approach: Drill, baby, drill.

Governor Polis, State Legislators Announce Plans to Save People Money on Energy, Cut Red Tape to Accelerate Clean Energy Transition & Ensure that Colorado Continues to be a National Leader

03/08/23
Today, Governor Polis, Rep. Cathy Kipp, Rep. Ruby Dickson, Rep. Mike Weissman, Senator Chris Hansen, state lawmakers, and community members discussed a historic bill package that will save people money, cut red tape to accelerate…

How Colorado has increased its use of renewable electricity

03/06/23
Vice President Kamala Harris is speaking Monday in Colorado about green energy reform. Harris’ speech will take place in one of the United States’ major fossil fuel-producing states, one that has taken large strides towards…

Understanding Colorado’s Environmental Waste Reality

02/28/23
Colorado’s renewable energy frenzy has been met with an array of positive news. It’s viewed as clean, modern, and the best alternative to break America’s addiction to fossil fuels. But as facts about recycling the…

Xcel Energy Could Face Severe Penalties for Delays in Connecting Colorado Solar Projects

02/23/23
Xcel Energy, Colorado’s largest electric utility provider, is facing pressure from regulators and lawmakers to speed up the process of connecting businesses and homeowners with solar systems to the grid. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission…

Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions to build new solar plant in El Paso County, Colo.

01/18/23
Pike Solar project will provide clean energy to customers of Colorado Springs Utilities

In Colorado, oil firms fix leaky wells ahead of new rules

11/17/22
Northern Colorado's biggest oil producing region is emerging as a test case for energy companies hoping to tackle the industry's most pressing regulatory and environmental problems: capping old wells that leak climate-warming methane and other…

RFTA climate action planning project more than halfway complete

11/13/22
The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority is more than halfway through its climate action plan project. The inter-governmental transit agency created a four-phase project aimed at reducing greenhouse emissions within the agency’s regional bus operations. 

Big Batteries Come to Colorado

11/07/22
The 13,500 solar modules sandwiched by hillsides of sagebrush, pinyon and juniper near Glenwood Springs capture the eyes. It’s the four shipping containers of lithium-ion batteries, capable of five megawatts of storage, that will briefly…

Xcel Energy’s controversial Unaweep Canyon pumped-storage hydro project gets preliminary federal permit

11/01/22
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Tuesday accepted Xcel Energy’s application for a preliminary permit to study a pumped-storage hydropower project in Unaweep Canyon.

Colorado utility agrees to low-income solar program in nearly $100 million settlement

10/24/22
In a settlement agreement with the Environmental Justice Coalition, Xcel Energy agreed to boost equitable access to rooftop solar, community solar, and battery storage. It will set aside $33 million for environmental justice communities and…

Boulder’s Namaste Solar gives gift of sunshine to families in need

01/10/22
Over the holiday season, a Boulder renewable energy company joined with a major nonprofit organization to give 176 Colorado families the gift of sunshine — and help with keeping their lights on in the face…

Less funding for road expansion, billions for greener transportation projects possible with CDOT rule change

12/16/21
The Colorado Transportation Commission on Thursday approved a new rule that could divert billions of dollars to clean transportation projects in the coming decades. The rule will require the state Department of Transportation and the…
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A Colorado Coal Plant Could Help Solve Renewable Energy’s Storage Problem

09/22/21
As coal plants shut down, many places face the loss of jobs and taxes. But in Colorado, one town hopes to transform a coal plant into a new kind of renewable energy storage.

Colorado uranium miner launches US’s only rare earths processing hub

09/20/21
Rare earths are in advanced electronics and renewable energy systems but there's no U.S. supply, creating a big opportunity for one of the nation's poorest areas, CEO says.

Colorado looks to be ahead of Biden’s called-for pace on renewable energy

09/14/21
Colorado is ahead of several states and the U.S. when it comes to renewable energy sources, with about two-thirds predicted to come from wind and solar by 2030. Energy experts say the speed at which…

Progress on the roadmap

09/02/21
Colorado has a goal to run on 100 percent renewable energy by 2040—how far along the path are we, and is it still achievable?

Invenergy, Guzman Energy Partner on Colorado Solar Project

08/31/21
Invenergy and Guzman Energy, a Colorado-based wholesale power provider, have signed a 127 MW power purchase agreement for the Boutique Solar project, which is currently in development in Montezuma County, Colo.

Sen. John Hickenlooper: Renewable energy crucial to rural economic stability

08/31/21
Renewable energy sources will be crucial to the economic stability of rural Colorado, especially on the eastern Plains.

CSU-Pueblo first university in Colorado to reach net-zero efficiency

08/25/21
Colorado State University-Pueblo became the first campus in the state to reach net-zero efficiency last week when the school switched on its 23-acre solar array project.

Preparing for Climate Change in Colorado

08/30/20
This page provides an overview of the steps Colorado is taking to prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Colorado Climate Plan 2018 Update – State Level Policies and Strategies to Mitigate and Adapt

07/29/19
Colorado published its first Climate Plan in 2007, and advanced the plan with State Level Policies and Strategies to Mitigate and Adapt in 2015. This version, updated in 2018, incorporates additional commitments to climate action, as laid…

Bill HB19-126: Climate Action Plan To Reduce Pollution

05/31/19
Concerning the reduction of greenhouse gas pollution, and, in connection therewith, establishing statewide greenhouse gas pollution reduction goals and making an appropriation.

City of Fort Collins Climate Action Plan

04/02/19
The goal of this document is to set clear and specific emission reduction goals for the State of Colorado, to identify opportunities to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and to promote state policy recommendations and actions…

Denver 80×50 Climate Action Plan

03/22/19
Denver will aim to meet the following sector specific goals necessary to achieve the 80x50 Climate Goal. These goals were created to ensure there is a clear glide path to 2050 and a strong emphasis…

Boulder’s Climate Commitment

03/22/19
Boulder's Climate Commitment is the official climate strategy framework for the city organization. It provides a vision for Boulder's future, sets goals and targets related to emissions reduction and sustainability and provides initial pathways to…

Colorado Climate Plan

03/22/19
The goal of this document is to set clear and specific emission reduction goals for the State of Colorado, to identify opportunities to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and to promote state policy recommendations and actions…

Colorado Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap

10/02/15
The goals of the Roadmap are to assess the sources of the state’s greenhouse gas pollution; to identify a series of policy actions and other steps the state can prioritize to further GHG pollution reduction…

KEY RESOURCES

Colorado State Profile and Energy Estimates

09/24/21
Colorado has abundant fossil fuel reserves and renewable energy resources. Its diverse geography and geology include the headwaters of major rivers; potential to develop new wind and solar energy; and substantial deposits of crude oil,…

Energy State Bill Tracking Database

09/10/21
The searchable Energy Storage Legislation Database displays information in interactive maps and charts, tracking state activity from 2017 to the present.

The First National Flood Risk Assessment

10/06/20
The First Street Foundation Flood Model represents the culmination of decades of research and development made possible by building upon existing knowledge and frameworks regularly referenced in the identification of flood risk.

The State of Climate Adaptation in Public Health An Assessment of 16 U.S. States

10/06/20
EcoAdaptpartnered with the Natural Resources Defense Council to assess the state of climate adaptation planning and implementation for climate-related threats to public health in 16 U.S. states.

The Impacts of Climate Change and the Trump Administration’s Anti-Environmental Agenda in Colorado

09/19/20
Between 2017 and 2019, Colorado experienced seven severe storms, one wildfire, and one drought. The damages of each event led to losses of at least $1 billion.

Colorado Fires a Reminder That Wildfires Pose Threats to Life and Property Well Beyond California

09/17/20
“Damage caused by fire and smoke is covered under homeowners, renters and business insurance policies as well as under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy,” said Michael Barry, vice president, Media Relations at…

State-by-State: Colorado

07/31/20
Colorado is vulnerable to increasing heat, melting snowpack and glaciers, reduced water availability and wildfires

Lafayette Climate Bill of Rights

03/21/17
An ordinance of the city council of the city of Lafayette, Colorado, enacting the climate bill of rights and protections.

Colorado’s Climate and Colorado’s Health Report

07/29/19
Colorado’s changing climate poses health risks – now and into the future. Studies show that climate change and health are linked. Rising temperatures, polluted air and extreme weather, among the most impactful results of climate…

Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment

07/29/19
Climate change reports and resources

Four Ways the Climate Crisis is Impacting Colorado

07/29/19
Here are four major ways that residents of the Centennial State are seeing the impacts of climate change right now.

Impacts in Colorado

07/29/19
A partnership of University of Colorado research centers has collaborated on a great website to help you Learn More About Climate in Colorado.

350 Colorado

07/24/19
350 Colorado formed as an independent state affiliate of 350.org, a global organization building a movement to solve the climate crisis. Although we have been organizing events and growing since 2010, in 2013 we decided…

What Climate Change Means for Colorado

08/01/16
Colorado’s climate is changing. Most of the state has warmed one or two degrees (F) in the last century. Throughout the western United States, heat waves are becoming more common, snow is melting earlier in…

MORE NEWS

Aspen ski resort recognized for being eco-conscious

By Callie Zanandrie   02/08/23  
There's a push for sustainability in recreation and many ski resorts are making changes to protect the environment they get to operate in. Change like renewable energy to run lifts, electric buses and smarter snowmaking.
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Report finds 72% decline in western bumblebees in Colorado

By Rob Harris   02/08/23  
A new report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows a 72% decline in western bumblebees in Colorado’s Southern Rocky Mountains since 1998. The report found that climate change, drought, and increased…
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Gov. Polis calls on state utility, energy agencies to help curb costs

By Lucas Brady Woods and Natalie Skowlund   02/07/23  
Gov. Jared Polis says his administration is taking steps to cut Colorado’s utility bills following months of rising energy costs. Polis instructed the Public Utilities Commission and the Colorado Energy Office Monday to come up…
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To cut energy bills, Gov. Jared Polis says its time to rethink natural gas

By Sam Brasch   02/07/23  
Gov. Jared Polis on Monday blamed volatile natural gas markets for shockingly high winter heating bills, announcing new plans to help expand access to financial assistance and insulate households from future price spikes.
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The “Law of the River” at the heart of the Colorado River crisis

By Hayley Smith and Ian James   02/03/23  
It’s a crisis nearly 100 years in the making: Seven states — all reliant on a single mighty river as a vital source of water — failed to reach an agreement this week on how…
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$7.65M grant to extend study of how climate change shapes life at 10,000 feet

By Kelsey Simpkins   02/03/23  
For more than 40 years, scientists from CU Boulder and institutions around the country have braved thin air and often frigid weather to collect samples and data from above 9,500 feet on CU Boulder’s highest…
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Wet winter won’t fix Colorado River woes

By Bob Henson   02/02/23  
“One year of good flows doesn’t mean we have a trend,” noted one expert. The post Wet winter won’t fix Colorado River woes appeared first on Yale Climate Connections. ...
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Denver Bets on Rental Cars to Boost EV Adoption

By Sri Taylor   01/30/23  
To help people transition to electric vehicles, what if you start with rental cars? That’s the theory of a collaboration between rental car company Hertz Global Holdings Inc. and the city of Denver.
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As the Colorado River shrinks, Washington prepares to spread the pain

By Christopher Flavelle   01/27/23  
The seven states that rely on the river for water are not expected to reach a deal on cuts. It appears the Biden administration will have to impose reductions.
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In California’s Imperial Valley, farmers brace for a future with less Colorado River water

By Ian James   01/27/23  
Just north of the California-Mexico border, the All-American Canal cuts across 80 miles of barren, dune-swept desert. Up to 200 feet wide and 20 feet deep, the canal delivers the single largest share of Colorado…
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The Colorado River is overused and shrinking. Inside the crisis transforming the Southwest

By Ian James and Molly Hennessy-Fiske   01/26/23  
The Colorado River begins as melting snow, trickling from forested peaks and coursing in streams that gather in the meadows and valleys of the Rocky Mountains. Like arteries, its major tributaries take shape across Colorado,…
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A river guide’s view of Lake Powell’s decline and the depths of the Colorado River crisis

By Ian James   01/26/23  
Muddy water whizzed past as John Weisheit steered a motorboat upstream in the Colorado River. He revved the engine as the boat sped around a bend and up a riffle.
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Why your electricity and gas bill is skyrocketing in Colorado

By John Frank   01/25/23  
You're paying more to stay warm this winter in Colorado — way more: double or triple the cost of a year ago. "I thought there had to be some kind of mistake," Howard Manresa told…
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AP

AI wildfire detection bill gets initial approval in Colorado

By Jesse Bedayn   01/23/23  
A year after the most destructive wildfire in the state’s history scorched nearly 1,100 homes, Colorado lawmakers are considering joining other Western states by adopting artificial intelligence in the hopes of detecting blazes before they…
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Why the ground under Colorado solar panels is ripe for growing food

By Gabe Allen and Tyler Hickman   01/22/23  
A Republican lawmaker has joined the previously Democrat-only push for solar agriculture, or agrivoltaics, priming Colorado to become a national leader
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Colorado Wants More EVs on the Road, Without a Gas Car Ban

By Angely Mercado   12/15/22  
Colorado's draft EV plan includes e-bikes, electrifying larger vehicles, and setting up more charging stations.
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Boulder Named Climate Action Leader by Carbon Disclosure Project

By Leah Kelleher   11/18/22  
The City of Boulder has once again been recognized as a global leader on environmental action and transparency by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). This international nonprofit reviews environmental data provided by local governments to…
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Change urgently needed to ensure people and wildlife have access to water in the Upper Rio Grande Basin, scientists say

By Olivia Prentzel   11/18/22  
The health of the Upper Rio Grande Basin is at risk and change is urgently needed to ensure people and wildlife continue to have access to water, a group of scientists and advocates said Thursday. 
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Voters of color in Nevada, Colorado influenced by climate change, survey shows

By Kaleb Roedel   11/18/22  
According to the African American Research Collaborative, which surveyed Black and Latino voters in 11 battleground states, climate change and extreme weather was the most important issue for 20% of Black voters in Colorado. That’s…
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Colorado groups gain air pollution monitors through EPA grants

By Michael Booth   11/15/22  
Community justice groups and environmental nonprofits are always looking for tools to combat air pollution they say is created by under-regulated oil and gas producers and other big industrial sources.
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Town of Louisville enacts ’emergency’ ban on new gas stations; initiative seeks to make move permanent

By Jake Fogleman   11/08/22  
If government officials can’t force you to purchase an electric vehicle, it appears they’ll simply ban your ability to fuel your internal combustion engine car. At least, that seems to be the tactic taken by…
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Official: 2021 Colorado wildfire losses surpass $2 billion

10/27/22  
A wildfire that destroyed nearly 1,100 homes and businesses in suburban Denver last winter caused more than $2 billion in losses, making it by far the costliest in Colorado history, the state insurance commissioner said.
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CPR

After California, Colorado could become the second state to stop subsidizing natural gas connections

By Sam Brasch   10/26/22  
Concrete foundations sit next to newly paved roads stretching toward the foothills. Thrive Home Builders, the developer behind the project, has started to add wooden frames and roofs as it builds more than 200 single-family…
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Wildfires are burning higher in the West, threatening water supplies

By Joshua Partlow   09/22/22  
Two years ago, a wildfire started burning in Colorado’s Arapaho National Forest. Fanned by high winds and parched conditions, the East Troublesome fire raced up the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, at one point crossing…
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The Fight Over The Colorado River’s Water Is A Symbol Of The Larger Climate Crisis

By Alejandro De La Garza   08/29/22  
There’s something familiar about the high stakes water use drama playing out in the U.S. Southwest. The mighty Colorado River serves as an economic artery of the region, powering massive hydroelectric dams and supplying water…
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As Drought Hits Farms, Investors Lay Claim to Colorado Water

By Jennifer Oldham   08/10/22  
Michael Jones ducked under an idle sprinkler and strode across the sandy soil where he planned to plant drought-resistant crops, hoping to save water amid the driest period in more than 1,200 years. For the…
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A Painful Deadline Nears as Colorado River Reservoirs Run Critically Low

By Henry Fountain   07/21/22  
States in the Colorado River basin are scrambling to propose steep cuts in the water they’ll use from the river next year, in response to a call by the federal government for immediate, drastic efforts…
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A land rush for renewable energy is transforming the Eastern Plains

By Mark Jaffe   06/19/22  
A race to meet state climate goals — and to get expiring federal tax credits along the way — has led to a flurry of wind and solar activity.
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Opinion: Switching from natural gas to electricity will reduce Colorado’s smog

By Eric Reinhardt   06/09/22  
Seventy percent of Colorado’s homes burn gas for heating. Although burning fossil fuels like gas is the primary cause of the continued heating of the earth’s climate, this figure represents more than just a climate…
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Colorado River: Serving as the “lifeline of the Southwest”

06/03/22  
Serving as the “lifeline of the Southwest,” and one of the most heavily regulated rivers in the world, the Colorado River provides water to 35 million people and more than 4 million acres of farmland…
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U.S. approves major transmission line from Wyoming to Utah

By Nichola Groom   05/27/22  
The Biden administration on Thursday gave final approval to a 416-mile electric transmission line that will help connect more wind and solar energy to the Western U.S. grid.
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The Colorado River is in crisis, and it’s getting worse every day

By Erin Patrick O'Connor   05/14/22  
It is a powerhouse: a 1,450-mile waterway that stretches from the Rocky Mountains to the Sea of Cortez, serving 40 million people in seven U.S. states, 30 federally recognized tribes and Mexico. It hydrates 5…
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Smoke and sandstorm, seen from space

By Maggie Astor   05/04/22  
A time-lapse image of smoke from wildfires in New Mexico and dust from a storm in Colorado illustrates the scope of Western catastrophe. The video is mesmerizing: As three whitish-gray geysers gush eastward from the…
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Trying to electrify your home, add solar panels or buy an e-bike? Denver wants to help pay for it.

By Sam Brasch   04/14/22  
On April 22, the city plans to launch a rebate program to help residents purchase all sorts of products — e-bikes, solar panels, cold-climate heat pumps — meant to help them ditch fossil fuels. Johnathan…
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NCAR Fire forced evacuation of 8,000 homes in Boulder

By Nate Lynn   03/27/22  
About 8,000 homes were ordered to evacuate due to a fast-moving wildfire burning in an open space near the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder on Saturday afternoon.
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Wildfires are becoming more intense at night and lasting longer, study finds

By Kasha Patel   02/16/22  
Nighttime-fire intensity in the U.S. West has increased by 28 percent over the past two decades.
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How Billions in Infrastructure Funding Could Worsen Global Warming

By Brad Plumer   02/10/22  
The highways in Colorado, one of the nation’s fastest-growing states, are frequently clogged with suburban workers driving into Denver, skiers heading high into the Rocky Mountains and trucks rumbling across the Interstates.
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Boulder County Commissioners to the Boulder County Community and President Biden: This is a climate emergency

01/12/22  
The following is a statement from the Boulder County Commissioners: Our hearts are with our neighbors, friends, and community members who are dealing with the painful aftermath of the Marshall Fire. We grieve the loss…
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In Aftermath of Marshall Fire, Climate Activists Join Forces To Rally for Change

By Amber Carlson   01/11/22  
In the wake of the most devastating wildfire in Colorado’s history, a coalition of climate groups is organizing a “State of the Climate” rally Thursday on the West Steps of the Capitol to call for…
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Marshall firestorm shows Colorado suburbs now vulnerable as climate warms, “hardening” needed, experts say

By Bruce Finley   01/11/22  
The higher temperatures drying the West had created such deadly conditions this winter that Colorado authorities were on alert, seven weeks before the Marshall firestorm, as multiple fast-moving grassfires broke out in Front Range cities.
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Xcel’s Power Pathway leaves its mark on rural Colorado

By Rachel Gabel   01/08/22  
The point where the corners of Colorado’s Lincoln, El Paso, Crowley and Pueblo counties meet were marked by a small bronze plaque, but the plaque is missing, a trophy of sorts, presumably pocketed by an…
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Biden calls Colorado’s most destructive wildfire ‘code red’ climate warning

By Jeff Mason   01/08/22  
U.S. President Joe Biden, visiting the scene of Colorado's most destructive wildfire on record, said on Friday the rare winter blaze marked the latest "code red" reminder of an ominously changing climate he hopes to…
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What we know — and don’t — about the Marshall Fire

By Alayna Alvarez   01/03/22  
What we know: Despite early reports that no one was missing in the fire, a man from Marshall and a woman from Superior are now reported as missing and presumed dead, emergency officials said Sunday.…
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1 big thing: Wildfire hits tight-knit climate science community

By Ben German and Andrew Freedman   01/03/22  
The wind-whipped firestorm that tore through parts of Boulder County, Colorado, on Thursday struck at the heart of one of America's top climate science and meteorology research hubs, Andrew writes.
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‘Total devastation’ after wildfire charges through Colorado towns

By Ari Schneider, Jennifer Oldham, Marisa Iati and Emmanuel Felton   12/31/21  
More than 500 families may enter a new year having lost their homes after runaway grass fires bore down on the region northwest of Denver on Thursday, but others were returning to their neighborhoods Friday…
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In Colorado, electric cars are mostly for rich people. Could federal and state policy change that?

By Sam Brasch   12/31/21  
The sun was setting when Shere Walker drove her 2014 Nissan hatchback to pick up her daughter from an after-school program in Jefferson County. The stop was her final destination before a crosstown trip to…
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Dire climate change scenarios for Colorado’s High Country ‘untethered from the real world’

By Jake Fogleman   12/30/21  
Local governments in Colorado’s High Country have spent thousands of dollars in taxpayer money on climate studies pushing questionable emissions scenarios. The studies—conducted by Rocky Mountain Climate Organization (RMCO) on behalf of Summit and Eagle…
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Rising temperatures, extreme drought and giant wildfires batter Colorado ski industry

By Vicky Collins   12/25/21  
During the annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at Breckenridge Ski Resort in early December, thousands of people crowded onto Main Street under a bluebird sky.
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Renewable energy is reducing Colorado Springs’ carbon footprint

By Heidi Beedle   12/22/21  
The Manitou Springs Water Treatment Plant, in partnership with the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority, announced they have finished installation of an in-pipe hydropower system, which is a small step toward Colorado Springs…
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Biden administration calls for ‘solar energy zones’ in Colorado

By The Associated Press   12/22/21  
U.S. officials announced approval Tuesday of two large-scale solar projects in California and moved to open up public lands in other Western states, including Colorado, to potential solar power development, as part of the Biden…
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