Colorado, like many states in the Rocky Mountains, is rich in natural resources. However, policies in Colorado focused on reducing CO2-emissions are increasingly dictating energy production, energy use, and energy prices.

Aggressive emissions-reduction requirements put in place by 2019 legislation require Colorado to reduce CO2 equivalent emissions by 80% in the power sector and 50% across all sectors against 2005 levels by 2030. The Administration has also released two policy “roadmap” reports on policies aimed at achieving these target reductions. The first was done during the height of the pandemic in 2021 and reflects the realities of the time. The second one was released in February 2024 and outlines aggressive policies to cut CO2 emissions but does not address grid and power reliability, major cost factors for aggressively reducing emissions, nor Colorado’s role in global CO2 emissions. It also does not address Colorado’s ability to compete with other states as the costs of heating and fueling homes, transportation, and manufacturing in Colorado are all underpinned by energy prices, access, and reliability.

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