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Transportation, electricity and the oil and gas industry 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 and gas and more on electricity.
Electricity has been a long-time focus of greenhouse gas emissions. Former Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., in 2007, set a 2020 goal of reducing GHG emissions by 20 percent. The state not only met the goal, but because of the goal, has an easier path to bigger changes.
Xcel Energy led the way by signing on in 2005 to track, verify and reduce carbon emissions. The investor-owned utility which provides 54 percent of Colorado’s electricity, has increased its use of renewable energy to 28 percent by 2018.
Ritter, who created the Colorado Energy Office, 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 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 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.
In 2019, the Colorado Legislature passed HB 19-1261, which set statewide goals of reducing emissions by 26 percent by 2025; 50 percent by 2030 and 90 percent by 2050. All these goals are in relation to 2005 data. This year, Polis built on the momentum with his Greenhouse Gas Roadmap, which takes an economy-wide approach.
Instead of isolating one
“They did a lot of work," State Senator Faith Winters said. "And we think that there's some more tools and resources that need to happen in order to make sure we achieve the goals laid out in the roadmap.”
More funding for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and adding accountability to the utility goals are some of the things the legislature would like to add. Other critics find the Roadmap’s goals lacking clear guidelines, regulations to meet those goals.
“I think there has been some concern in particular that initial commitments from our electric utilities were voluntary,” Hay said. “We really have a clear pathway that would take those voluntary public commitments and turn them into enforceable obligations through different set of regulatory processes so for our investor-owned utilities. So, I think what that says is the strategy worked.”
No matter the criticism, Sen. Winters likes the conversation. She was one of the organizers for putting
Renewable Energy Standards on the ballot in 2004 and did so only because she couldn’t make headway with the legislature.
“Clearly, it's easier now, when we have a pro climate trifecta (Governor, Senate, House),” Sen. Winters said. “It is a good place where you all agree climate change is real urgent action is needed. And the disagreements are around the how and why we can work through those disagreements.”
By Sarah Hornaday
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 2004. When the Trump Administration announced it was leaving the Paris Accord, Colorado and 24 other states formed 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.”
Colorado began setting climate change goals and placing themselves one step ahead of the federal government since 2004. The state passed the first Renewable Energy Standards by popular vote. Colorado set the Renewable Energy Standard at 10 percent from investor-owned utilities by 2020. Through the years that standard has increased to 30 percent and current Gov. Jared Polis campaigned with a goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2040.
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 Paris Accord was adopted in December, 2015 with the goal of greatly reducing greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius and maintain it as close to 1.5 degrees as possible by 2050. It also outlined uniform reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. It had commitments from 195 countries. The U.S. announced its decommitment in July, 2017. U.S. President Joe Biden recommitted to the agreement in January, 2021.
Photos/Videos: Sarah Hornaday
Paris Accord
U.S. Climate Alliance States
GHG Sources
Colorado Utilities
Utility Source Changes