DENVER - In the first half of 2024, Governor Polis and his administration made new near-term progress, signed a series of new climate-related bills into law, and made important investments aimed at cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution emissions, according to a newly released progress report on the Colorado Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap.
“Colorado continues to lead the nation in climate initiatives that reduce air pollution, investing in clean energy alternatives, and saving Coloradans money. The GHG Roadmap is another step toward achieving Colorado’s goal of low cost, reliable 100% renewable energy by 2024,” said Governor Polis. “In particular our progress on making housing more affordable, including removing barriers to multi-family housing near transit and accessory dwelling units, will lead to a lower emission future by reducing traffic and decreasing energy and water usage.”
Jointly drafted by the Colorado Energy Office (CEO), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), these reports ensure that the public is kept up-to-date on the work agencies are doing to meet the GHG Roadmap’s goals. The last report was released in December 2023.
As outlined in this new report, the state released an updated version of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Pollution Reduction Roadmap in February. “Roadmap 2.0” builds on the original 2021 version by laying out 49 new Near Term Actions that the Polis Administration is committed to undertaking in 2024, 2025, and 2026 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save Coloradans money. The Roadmap analysis found that these commitments, if enacted or implemented, along with all the action already underway, have Colorado achieving its 2030 sector-wide GHG target of a 50% reduction from 2005 levels in 2031 – and that’s even if no further regulatory, legislative, or administrative actions are taken after 2026.
In addition, Governor Polis signed more than two dozen key new laws to further build on Colorado’s commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, the passage of a dozen bills focused on strategic growth and public transit will have both a substantial impact on cutting emissions across sectors — including transit, housing, and the electrical grid — and on making Colorado all the more livable in our changing climate.
“The past six months have been historic when it comes to making meaningful and deep cuts to our GHG emissions in ways that protect Coloradans’ pocketbooks,” said CEO Executive Director Will Toor. “Both Roadmap 2.0 and recently enacted legislation reflect the all-of-government, cross-sector approach the Polis Administration is taking to address the climate crisis. Notably, our work during this period on strategic growth, which covers efforts across multiple agencies on such key issues as housing, transit and our electrical grid system, will be a difference maker.”
Other highlights from the past six months include:
- This past legislative session, Governor Polis signed a package of new housing laws that will save Coloradans money on housing while also protecting Colorado’s environment and reducing pollution, including helping to create more housing near transit, removing costly parking mandates for residential development near transit, allowing the development of cost-effective housing such as accessory dwelling units, and eliminating discriminatory occupancy limits.
- Colorado’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board selected eight grantees for the second cycle of its Environmental Justice (EJ) Grant Program. The grantees received funding awards totaling $1.1 million for projects addressing a range of issues in disproportionately impacted communities, including indoor air quality, water quality, management of municipal solid waste, resiliency to extreme weather events, food security, and community engagement.
- The state launched its e-bike tax credit, offering a $450 point-of-sale discount to all Coloradans purchasing a qualified e-bike from a participating retailer. The state expects more than 10,000 e-bike purchases in 2024 as a result of the tax credit.
- CEO and CDOT awarded $21 million in grant funding for 290 fast chargers at 46 locations across the state through its second DCFC Plazas application round to incorporate NEVI funding (alongside state Community Access Enterprise funding).
- CEO announced $7.7 million in grant awards through the Geothermal Energy Grant Program to advance the use of geothermal technology in the state. Awardees are expected to invest more than $100 million into the awarded projects, demonstrating significant private interest in the potential for geothermal energy in Colorado.
- The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved Xcel’s gas infrastructure plan, which sets a total investment of roughly $383 million, including $310.5 million for direct incentives and rebates to help customers reduce gas use through energy efficiency and switching to heat pumps and heat pump hot water heaters. The PUC also approved $10 million for recovered methane purchases, $30.5 million for market transformation projects, and $32 million to promote all-electric new construction.
- The Department of Personnel and Administration established the Office of Sustainability. The office is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from state operations by at least 26%; reduce energy use per square foot in state facilities by at least 15%; ensure that at least 7% of total electricity consumed by state facilities is renewable; and lower GHG from state vehicles by at least 15% (compared to a FY 2014-15 baseline).
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