A cross-agency effort will slash greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, increase strategic growth and transit accessibility, and make the state more climate-resilient
Governor Polis recently signed into law a series of bills passed by the Colorado legislature that build on the state's commitment to addressing climate issues through cutting greenhouse gas emissions, creating an equitable transition to a low-carbon economy, and ensuring Colorado's natural resources are secure in the face of climate change.
The Colorado Energy Office (CEO), the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be responsible for implementing many of these new laws.
These new laws cover a wide range of sectors and issues, including strategic growth, land use, housing, public transit, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, electric grid readiness, carbon management, renewable energy, air quality, a just transition for communities transitioning from fossil fuel production, agriculture, and water security.
"Over the past few years, both the Governor and our legislature have worked hard to prioritize developing key policies that can ensure that Colorado makes the transition to affordable clean energy," said Colorado Energy Office Executive Director Will Toor. "This year's slate of new laws goes a long way to setting in motion practical steps to implement these important policies. Our elected officials deserve a lot of praise for taking these next important actions."
These new laws come just months after the state released its new Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Pollution Reduction Roadmap. "Roadmap 2.0" is an update of the original 2021 version. It shows that without any new rules or laws beyond what is already underway as of the fall 2023, Colorado is projected to be more than 80% of the way to meeting its statutory goal of a 50% emissions reduction in 2030 from 2005 levels. In addition, as part of this Roadmap, the state is committing to 49 additional Near Term Actions that will drive additional emissions reductions in every sector. These new laws address a number of the Near Term Action, particularly in the areas of strategic growth and transit.
Perhaps the most significant climate-related legislation this year was the package of strategic growth-related bills that will encourage more housing to be built in cities near jobs and other daily destinations. House Bill 24-1313 will encourage the development of multifamily housing near public transit, and House Bill 24-1304 will remove costly parking mandates for residential development along transit corridors.
Notably, the state's actions on transit will both unlock key federal funding and further transit activity already in action. Highlights include Senate Bill 24-184, which imposes a fee on rental cars so that out-of-state visitors who contribute to wear and tear and congestion on Colorado's roads help pay for transportation, and Senate Bill 24-230, which imposes a fee on oil and gas production to offset oil and gas pollution by investing in public transit. That fee revenue will also help provide seed funding for the Front Range Passenger Rail project from Pueblo to Fort Collins and mountain rail from Denver to Craig. Additionally, the new transit revenue will help expand CDOT's growing Bustang network of intercity bus service and provide funding to transit agencies across the state.
"The legislature and Governor's bold steps on transit funding will allow Colorado to take advantage of tens of billions of dollars in new federal resources specifically for rail - dollars that would either come to Colorado or go to other places like California and Texas," said Shoshana Lew, executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation. "If we win them for Colorado, we have the unique opportunity to create a transit spine both north to south and east to west throughout the state. Overall, the funds being invested in transit are going to pay dividends for many decades to come in the form of increased transportation options for Coloradans and the economic development that will accompany a robust multimodal network."
Protecting Coloradans' health and bolstering the state's climate resiliency were also key takeaways from this legislative session.
"Colorado continues to lead the nation in environmental protection and climate resilience, and these laws will help us build on our progress," said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. "By tackling ozone pollution, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing environmental justice, and protecting our water systems, we're creating a healthier state for all."
The Polis administration and the legislature also continued to work tirelessly this session to address the impacts of the oil and gas industry. Elected officials and stakeholders found important common ground that will play a key role in meeting our climate goals and ensuring that the state's energy needs are met in the short- and long-term.
"This Colorado legislative session, with the leadership of Governor Polis, saw key new investments and policies to help protect our natural resources and plan for a future impacted by climate change," said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. "This includes priorities for the 21st century by paving the way to oversee underground carbon storage, utilize geothermal sources for heat and power, boost efforts to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk and invest in securing water supplies and water conservation measures. The Department of Natural Resources is proud to work with our sister agencies towards healthier forests and watersheds, a cleaner energy portfolio, and water projects that benefit our communities and wildlife."
In addition, these new laws will help protect the state's natural environment and essential water resources, which are important to both urban and rural Coloradans.
"Funding for the Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office will be used to accelerate renewable energy generation in Colorado's rural communities while helping to support a variety of on-farm resilience practices," said Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. "Colorado's farmers and ranchers are key players in the response to a changing climate and the newly approved Agricultural Stewardship tax credit will provide financial incentives to help producers invest into agricultural resilience projects."
