Colorado's Greenhouse Gases are Going Down for the First Time in Its History

The state of Colorado is still a long way from reaching its 2050 commitment, but a move to more renewable energy has the state trending in the right direction.

1 minute read

July 15, 2019, 12:00 PM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Denver

Arina P Habich / Shutterstock

According to the state of Colorado, greenhouse gas emissions are down for the first time since the state started recording them. In 2005, the state legislature passed a bill that set a goal for reducing the state's emissions, and created a department to monitor emissions levels. "The legislation, House Bill 19-1261, sets the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent or more from 2005 levels — 125 million metric tons — by 2050," Judith Kohler reports for The Denver Post. Getting down to those levels is still a long way off. "Even meeting the first target of a 26 percent reduction by 2025 will be a challenge, staff officials conceded," Kohler writes.

But new sources of power have the state moving in the right direction, as the state's utilities incorporate more wind and solar energy. "The inventory shows emissions from electric power plants dropping while emissions from vehicles are projected to increase and surpass levels produced by electric utilities," Kohler reports. This pattern of growing emissions from transportation follows what has been happening around the country, where more vehicle miles (among other factors) have seen transportation outpacing energy in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.

Friday, July 12, 2019 in The Denver Post

Chicago Intercity Rail

Amtrak Ramping Up Infrastructure Projects

Thanks to federal funding from the 2021 infrastructure act, the agency plans to triple its investment in infrastructure improvements and new routes in the next two years.

September 25, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Google maps street view of San Francisco alleyway.

Ending Downtown San Francisco’s ‘Doom Loop’

A new public space project offers an ambitious vision—so why is the city implementing it at such a small scale?

September 26, 2023 - Fast Company

Google street view of yellow "End Freeway 1/4 mile" sign on 90 freeway in Los Angeles, California.

Proposal Would Transform L.A.’s ‘Freeway to Nowhere’ Into Park, Housing

A never-completed freeway segment could see new life as a mixed-use development with housing, commercial space, and one of the county’s largest parks.

September 26, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Sketch of proposed city with buildings, trees, and people.

Why Brand New Cities Won’t Solve Our Urban Problems

Building cities takes time and resources. Why not spend them on fixing the ones we have?

17 minutes ago - The Atlantic

Historic brick sugar refinery building redeveloped with glass office tower inside and yellow Domino Sugar sign

Former Brooklyn Sugar Refinery Reopens as All-Electric Office Tower

A historic building was reimagined as a 15-story office tower powered by renewable energy.

1 hour ago - Untapped Cities

Car crash scene with overturned car, emergency vehicles, and firefighter standing at left.

NHTSA: Traffic Fatalities Decline for Fifth Straight Quarter

Traffic deaths were 3.3 percent lower in the first half of 2023 than the same period last year, but not all states saw the same results.

2 hours ago - ABC News

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.