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Upon entering office, President Joe Biden promptly rejoined the Paris Accord showing the United States’ renewed interest in curbing global warming. This was a big change from the Trump Administration’s views, but not a big change for Coloradoans.
Colorado has been steadily working towards limiting the Greenhouse Gases that cause global warming since 2007. When the Trump Administration announced it was leaving the Paris Accord, Colorado and 24 other states continued the work of the Paris Accord through the work of the
“We're excited to have a partner in doing this work, not having to fight against the federal government when we're trying implement climate policy,” said Keith Hay, Director of Utility Policy, Colorado Energy Office. “We’re happy to have a partner rather than an opponent and we’re looking forward to partner with them to do big bold things to address climate change.”
The most recent step Colorado has taken is Governor Jared Polis’ Greenhouse Gas Roadmap. Building on the Colorado Legislature’s measure taken in 2019, Polis announced an economy wide approach to curbing
Instead of isolating one cause of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, the Roadmap, takes a holistic approach to the problem. With several sectors pitching in in the fight. The plan looks at what consumers can do about changes as well as industry and government.
Oil & Gas, Electricity and Transportation are the three largest contributors to Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the state. Changes involving electricity would affect a majority of the problem. Cleaner electricity means less reliance on oil and gas. Transforming transportation from fossil-fuel powered vehicles to electric-powered vehicles would again mean less reliance on oil & gas and more on electricity.
Electricity has been a long-time focus of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Ritter sees the state’s movement towards bigger changes as not a momentum from his administration as much as a changing time.
“The Governor’s Roadmap, which was really created because of the legislation (HB19-1261). So, it's really the governor and the legislature that hat should take credit for this,” Ritter said. “It's far more comprehensive than what we were able to do because we didn't have the political will to do it.”
“The Governor’s Roadmap, which was really created because of the legislation (HB19-1261). So, it's really the governor and the legislature that hat should take credit for this,” Ritter said. “It's far more comprehensive than what we were able to do because we didn't have the political will to do it.”
Renewable energy is most commonly seen as solar, wind and water with other sources like biomass. The majority of Colorado’s electricity comes from
The time is now to make progress in climate change. States have an ally in the Biden administration. Renewable Energy is much more affordable than Ritter began this fight. And there’s both community and political support.
“Governor Polis and the Legislature deserve a lot of credit for doing what they did (Greenhouse Gas Roadmap and HB-1261),” Ritter said. “It’s similar to things that were done around the country, but to step out like they did. There deserve a lot of credit.”