To address climate change and meet the requirements of Senate Bill 21-264, the Air Quality Control Commission adopted protocols for use in demonstrating greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions from eligible types of recovered methane that may be included in public and municipal gas utilities’ Clean Heat Plans, as well as a crediting and tracking system for GHG reductions from recovered methane projects. Recovered methane is methane from certain sources that would have gone to the atmosphere and contributed to climate change if it was not recovered and put to use. Eligible types of recovered methane are defined in Senate Bill 21-264 and the Commission’s recovered methane rule, which was adopted in November 2022 and became effective on January 14, 2023.
The recovered methane rule adopted by the commission under Regulation 22, Part C, may be found here.
The Air Pollution Control Division is requesting a rulemaking to change the existing Air Quality Control Commission Regulation 22, Part C (Recovered Methane). These changes are generally minor and will not affect how the environment or Colorado communities are impacted by climate change. More information is available: Changes to Regulation 22, Part C, Recovered Methane.
Recovered Methane Protocols
The Air Quality Control Commission's recovered methane rule includes protocols for recovered methane from livestock manure management systems, municipal solid waste or landfills, wastewater treatment, coal mines, and gas utility system leaks. Details on each protocol can be found in the recovered methane rule fact sheet.
Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System
Access the Web Portal and Recovered Methane Credit Forms
Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System
The Air Pollution Control Division has established the Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System in which greenhouse gas reduction credits for recovered methane may be issued and tracked for use in demonstrating compliance with approved clean heat plans for gas distribution utilities, municipal gas distribution utilities, or small gas distribution utilities. The credits must be generated pursuant to the relevant protocols outlined in Section I.C. of the recovered methane rule. The requirements for a gas distribution utility or recovered methane project developer/operator seeking issuance of credits to it in the Division’s Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System are detailed in Section I.D. of the rule and outlined in the recovered methane rule fact sheet.
See here for Frequently Asked Questions about the CDPHE Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System.
Air Quality Control Commission Recovered Methane Rulemaking Hearing Documents
The agenda, presentations, and other materials from the recovered methane rulemaking hearing can be found here.
Recovered Methane Stakeholder Meetings
Three public listening sessions were held prior to the rulemaking to gather input on the rule concepts.
Recording and presentation slides
Recovered Methane Protocols Technical Work Group
To help meet the requirement to develop recovered methane protocols, the Division convened a technical work group for a series of 10 meetings prior to the rule proposal before the Air Quality Control Commission.
Recovered Methane Technical Work Group Materials
General questions? Email us at climatechange@state.co.us, Subject: Recovered Methane
Recovered Methane Credit questions? Email us at climatechange@state.co.us, Subject: Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System