Colorado
Colorado has made significant progress on climate action in recent years. The state aims to achieve net-zero emissions and 100% clean energy by 2050.
Legislative Profile
Governor: Jared Polis (D)
House: Democratic majority
Senate: Democratic majority
U.S. Climate Alliance Member
Key Resources
Colorado State Energy Profile — U.S. EIA
Colorado Climate Change Portal – Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
Colorado Legal Profile — Lawyers for Good Government
Colorado Energy Policy Simulator — Energy Innovation and RMI
Colorado EJ Map — Mapping for Environmental Justice
Colorado Energy Policy Simulator Insights: Current Emissions Trajectory, 1.5°C Scenario — Energy Innovation
Emissions Reduction Targets
By 2025:
26%
By 2030:
50%
By 2035:
65%
By 2040:
75%
By 2045:
90%
By 2050:
Net-zero
All targets relative to 2005 levels
2019 GHG Emissions By Sector (%)
- Commercial
- Electric
- Residential
- Industrial
- Transportation
- Agriculture
Source: EPA State Inventory Tool (SIT)
Use the + icons in each policy area below to explore climate policy that has been passed at the state level, with links to relevant legislation and trackers. Policies in gray have not yet been passed in this state.
Climate Governance & Equity
Climate Governance
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
26% by 2025 | 50% by 2030 | 65% by 2035 | 75% by 2040 | 90% by 2045 | net-zero by 2050
Mandate Source
2025 and 2030: Mandatory – HB 19-1261 (2019)
2035, 2040, 2045, and 2050: Mandatory – SB 23-016 (2023)
Climate Action Plan
Climate Bureaucracy
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
2005-2019 Greenhouse Gas Inventory (September 2021)
Mandate Source
SB19-096 (2019) and Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-7-140
Green Bank
Establishing Legislation
Lead by Example
ACEEE Score – 1 out of 1 point**
Public Fleet ZEV Requirements
Executive Order D 2022 106 (2022) – Requires that EVs are the default vehicle for all light-duty vehicle purchases by state agencies and departments
Equity
Environmental Justice Community Designation
Mandate Source
HB21-1266 (2021)
Definition
“Disproportionately impacted communities” are defined as communities where over 40% of households are low income, minority, or housing cost-burdened; those with a history of environmental racism; or those with persistent environmental health disparities.
Include race? Yes | Include income? Yes | Include pollution burden? Yes
State EJ Mapping Tools
EJ Community Benefit Requirement
SB 21-272 (2021) – At least 40% of renewable energy programs, incentives, and direct investments must benefit low-income customers and disproportionately impacted communities
EJ Bureaucracy
EJ Advisory Bodies
Environmental Justice Advisory Board
Environmental Justice Action Task Force
EJ Government Staff
**The ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes the policies and programs states adopt to save energy in public sector buildings and transportation fleets. States can earn up to 1 point.
Adaptation & Resilience
Electricity
Renewables and Energy Storage
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Target
30% by 2020 (IOUs) | 10% or 20% for munis and coops depending on size | 100% clean energy by 2050 for utilities serving 500,000 or more customers
Legislation
SB 19-263 (2019)
Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out
SPOT Components – 1 out of 5*
Net Metering
SPOT Components – 10 out of 11*
Energy Storage Standard
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Shared Renewables
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Grid and Utility Reform
Clean Energy Plan
Mandate Source
SB 19-236 (2019) – Requires regulated utilities to submit a Clean Energy Plan to reduce emissions 80% below 2005 levels by 2030 and supply 100% clean energy by 2050
Grid Modernization Plan
The GridWise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index (GMI) evaluates and ranks the status of grid modernization efforts across all 50 states and D.C.
50-state Ranking – 11th
Interconnection Standards
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Utility Green Power Option
SPOT Components – 4 out of 6*
New Utility Business Model Proceeding
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Buildings & Efficiency
Building Energy Codes
Residential Codes
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Statewide code – No statewide code
Commercial Codes
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Statewide code – No statewide code
Stretch or Reach Codes
HB 22-1362 (2022) – Requires any municipality that adopts or updates building codes to also adopt or exceed the 2021 IECC
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Efficiency Programs and Financing
Weatherization Programs
SPOT Components – 3 out of 4*
Energy Auditing Programs
Retrocommissioning Programs
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
SPOT Components – 6 out of 10*
Energy Savings Performance Contracting
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Standards and Market Mechanisms
Energy Efficiency Resource Standard
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Building Performance Standard (BPS)
SB 21-1286 (2021) – Requires a building performance standard to meet GHG reduction targets of 7% by 2026 and 20% by 2030 from a 2021 baseline in energy benchmarking data
Appliance Performance Standard (APS)
HB23-1161 (2023)
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings Data Disclosure
Transportation
Vehicle Standards and Incentives
Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates
EV Targets and Sales Requirements
Advanced Clean Cars II (2023) – Model Year (MY) 2027: 43% of new passenger vehicle sales are ZEVs | MY 2030: 68% of new sales are ZEVs | MY 2032: 82% of new sales are ZEVs
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle (MHDVs) Sales Standards
EV Sales Requirements
Electric Vehicle Incentives
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Charging Infrastructure Incentives
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
State Planning and Investment
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
Established 2025, 2030, 2040, and 2050 Transportation Planning GHG Reduction Levels for each regional area, and new transportation projects cannot exceed these targets
Mandate Source
2 CCR 601-22 (2021), as required by SB 21-260 (2021)
Decarbonization Plan
EV and EV Charging Infrastructure Plans
EV Transit Bus Deployment
The ACEEE Transportation Electrification Scorecard analyzes the level of investment and policies states adopt to procure electric transit buses. States can earn up to 6 points.
ACEEE Score – 4 out of 6 points
Bicycle Friendly State
The League of American Bicyclists’ State Report Cards evaluate and rank the safety and efficiency of active transportation systems across all 50 states.
50-state Ranking – 6th
Agriculture
Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture Governance
Task Force Portal or Action Plan
Created the Agricultural Drought And Climate Resilience Office
Requires the Department of Agriculture to study the greenhouse gas mitigation and carbon sequestration potential of soil health management practices
Mandate Source
Financial Incentives
HB 21-1181 (2021) – Agricultural Soil Health Program
HB 21-1242 (2021) – Creates an Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office to establish incentive programs
Technical Assistance and Education Programs
HB 21-1181 (2021) – Agricultural Soil Health Program
Food Waste Bans and Targets
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) Regulations
HFC Regulations
5 CCR 1001-26 (2021)
Methane Regulations
HB 21-1266 (2021) – Requires a 60% reduction in emissions from oil and gas methane by 2030, relative to 2005 levels
2 CCR 404-1 (2020) – Requires oil and gas companies to find and fix methane leaks, and, where necessary, install technologies to limit or prevent emissions. Rules also require semiannual leak detection, tank controls, and performance standards for transmission
Regulation Number 7 (2021) – Requires frequent leak detection and repair (LDAR) and eliminates routine methane flaring during maintenance
Regulation Number 22 (2023) – Greenhouse Gas Reporting and Emission Reduction Requirements
SF6 Regulations
HB 21-1266 (2021) – Requires a 20% reduction from 2015 levels by 2030 in industrial and manufacturing emissions, including SF6 emissions
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buy Clean Requirements
AB 21-1303 (2021) – Public construction projects will have to meet clear environmental criteria for the use of seven common construction materials, such as cement, glass, and steel starting January 2024
SB 22-051 (2022) – Establishes a sales and use tax exemption for low-emission building materials, including green concrete, recycled steel and composite wood products