The Polis administration released the first Colorado Carbon Management Roadmap today (Feb 26), which will help guide state action to develop and implement innovative carbon management solutions over the next decade. Signed by Governor Polis and directed by the legislature through HB23-1210 Carbon Management, this Roadmap provides a strategic path to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, attract investment, stimulate economic growth, and create good paying jobs for Coloradans.
"Regardless of what happens in Washington DC, Colorado is a national leader in clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction strategies, and I am proud to continue our efforts to protect our air quality, decarbonize, grow our clean energy job sector, and foster innovation in the state. This is a great next step toward reaching our goal of more affordable energy and net-zero emissions by 2050," said Governor Polis.
The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) partnered with the Great Plains Institute, a nonpartisan nonprofit with carbon management and community engagement expertise, to develop the Roadmap. The Roadmap outlines nearly 70 policy recommendations developed with input from 15 state agencies and numerous stakeholders.
"In addition to our commitment to reduce emissions across economic sectors, carbon management will play a key role in decarbonizing the most difficult sectors and moving us across the net-zero finish line by 2050," said CEO Executive Director Will Toor. "This Roadmaps is a bold and strategic step toward achieving our climate goals while fostering innovation in communities across the state. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and strong public-private partnerships, we are paving the way to new job opportunities and cleaner air across Colorado."
The Colorado Carbon Management Roadmap explores how carbon management technologies align with Colorado's natural resources, workforce opportunities, market dynamics, and community needs, aiming to help:
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Accelerate net-zero emissions goal by 2050 through scalable and high-quality carbon management solutions.
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Support industrial decarbonization in sectors where other emissions reduction strategies cannot completely eliminate emissions, such as cement manufacturing and steel fabrication.
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Encourage technological innovation by fostering public-private partnerships and strategically attracting investment.
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Ensure an equitable transition by prioritizing workforce training, economic diversification, and frontline community engagement.
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Unlock state and federal funding, tax incentives, and private capital flows to facilitate carbon management projects.
Carbon Management encompasses a variety of strategies including capturing carbon directly from the air, capturing carbon at the source before it reaches the air, using captured carbon to create usable products, and permanently and safely storing captured carbon underground. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has determined that carbon management is necessary to prevent the worst effects of climate change. In addition to reducing GHG emissions, carbon capture can reduce other harmful air pollutants, such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.
Colorado's Roadmap prioritizes high-quality, durable carbon removal and industrial point-source carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). The Roadmap introduces key policy recommendations that position the state as a leader in carbon management, including:
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Creating Carbon Management Zones that leverage data-driven analysis to optimize project siting, streamline regulatory processes, and strategically reduce barriers to deployment.
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Developing a framework for Colorado to address long-term regulatory liability for geologic carbon storage wells.
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Establishing a forgivable loan fund to support carbon storage and geothermal development, which provides strategic support for early-stage projects.
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Exploring opportunities to use waste heat and excess clean energy generation capacity to power carbon removal.
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Launching an equity capital program to reduce risk and enhance project financing for carbon management initiatives.
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Developing a publicly accessible database to track proposed and active carbon management projects, fostering transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making for all stakeholders.
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Creating financial incentives to support carbon removal efforts.
The Roadmap also emphasizes environmental justice and community engagement, ensuring that disproportionately impacted communities, especially those located near industrial sites, benefit from cleaner air, job opportunities, and economic investment.
To inform the Roadmap development, CEO convened expert roundtables; conducted public listening sessions in Durango, Pueblo, and Firestone; and held two virtual forums to solicit input from Coloradans statewide. CEO also accepted public comment on a first draft before finalizing the Roadmap. Feedback from industry leaders, environmental advocates, and local communities helped shape the final recommendations, ensuring that the Roadmap reflects the needs and priorities of all Coloradans.
