The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment created the Climate Change Program in December 2019 to lead an ambitious effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to protect a livable climate. The Program is responsible for conducting the statewide Greenhouse Gas Inventory, developing regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and gathering input from stakeholders and communities to shape an equitable and effective response to climate change in Colorado.
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What's New?
- The draft verification and for the CORE Electric Cooperative Clean Energy Plan is now available for public comment until December 20, 2023. A public informational meeting will be held on December 18, 2023. Register here. Draft materials are available under “Clean Energy Plans” below.
- On September 22, 2023, the AQCC approved the proposed GEMM Phase 2 Rule aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from 18 of the largest emitters in Colorado’s industrial and manufacturing sector 20% by the year 2030, compared to 2015 emissions. More information is available here.
- On August 17, 2023, the AQCC approved the proposed Building Performance Standard Rule aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. More information on the commission meeting is available here.
- The state is working to update the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap, led by the Colorado Energy Office. Open public meetings and sector roundtables have concluded although written comments may still be submitted here. More information is available here.
- The state recently released 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 public and municipal gas distribution utilities. More information is available here.
In 2019, Senate Bill 19-096 was signed into law in Colorado requiring greenhouse gas-emitting entities to monitor and report their emissions in support of Colorado’s greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and reduction efforts. This bill supported Executive Order D 2017-015 which directed the Department to propose a greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting rule mirroring the federal reporting rule under 40 CFR, Part 98, among other requirements. In 2020, the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) adopted the Colorado GHG Reporting Rule under AQCC Regulation 22, Part A. The rule requires all GHG-emitting entities in Colorado who report their GHG emissions to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as required under 40 CFR, Part 98, to also report their emissions directly to the State of Colorado. The rule also requires certain GHG-emitting entities in Colorado who are NOT subject to EPA reporting requirements to report their GHG emissions to the State of Colorado (see list below). Additionally, the rule establishes supplemental data reporting requirements for electric service providers or utilities to submit information necessary for the Air Pollution Control Division (Division) to determine GHG emissions attributable to imported and exported electricity in Colorado and to assess compliance with approved Clean Energy Plans.
Under AQCC Regulation 22, Part A, the following GHG-emitting entities in Colorado are required to report their emissions to the Division regardless of annual GHG emission quantities:
- Electric service providers or utilities
- Natural gas local distribution companies
- Industrial waste landfills
- Industrial wastewater treatment operations
- Underground coal mines
AQCC Regulation 22, Part A, allows the Division to specify the format or forms for reporting GHG emissions to the State of Colorado. The Division has established a web portal and reporting form for submitting annual GHG reports, which can be accessed here. The web portal and reporting form must be used by entities subject to Colorado's GHG reporting requirements. A registered user account through the web portal is required to access the GHG reporting form. The reporting deadline is March 31 of each year for the prior calendar year’s GHG emissions.
For GHG reporters subject to AQCC Regulation 22, Part A, the Division requires that GHG emissions be reported to the State of Colorado using the XML file generated for the facility or entity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Electronic Greenhouse Gas Reporting Tool (e-GGRT). The XML file contains the necessary GHG emissions data that must be reported. GHG reporters subject to Colorado's GHG reporting requirements but not subject to EPA's GHG reporting requirements can still use e-GGRT to generate an XML file for reporting to the State of Colorado without reporting their GHG emissions to EPA.
Please see the GHG Reporting Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document in the Useful Links section below for more details and answers to other questions regarding the GHG web portal and reporting form.
You may also review the e-GGRT Instructions document for Colorado Greenhouse Gas reporters in the Useful Links section that provides detailed information on generating and downloading the correct XML file in e-GGRT for submission to the State of Colorado.
AQCC Regulation 22, Part A, Section IV.C., requires electric service providers or utilities to submit information necessary for the Division to determine GHG emissions attributable to imported and exported electricity in Colorado and to assess compliance with approved Clean Energy Plans. The submission of this information is due by June 30th of each year for the prior calendar year and must be reported using the Division’s Electric Utility Supplemental Data Form. This form has been updated for Reporting Year 2022 and can be downloaded using the link below. The completed form must be uploaded to the GHG Reporting Form for submission. Please see #19 and #20 in the GHG Reporting FAQ document for more information on submitting the Electric Utility Supplemental Data Form.
Electric Utility Supplemental Data Form for Reporting Year 2022
Past forms:
Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Emission Reduction Progress Reports
In 2019, Senate Bill 19-096 (SB 19-096) was adopted requiring the Division to publish updates to the statewide greenhouse gas inventory no less frequently than every two years. Also in that year, House Bill 19-1261 (HB19-1261) was adopted, establishing the first statewide GHG reduction goals and requiring progress reports to the legislature every odd-numbered year. Using facility reported data and other data sources, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s State GHG Emissions and Removals dataset or the State Inventory Tool, each updated GHG Inventory Report includes past, recent, and projected GHG emissions for the following sectors:
- Agriculture
- Coal Mining and Abandoned Mines
- Electric Power
- Industrial Processes and Product Uses
- Land Use and Forestry
- Natural Gas and Oil Systems
- Residential, Commercial, and Industrial (RCI) Fuel Use
- Transportation
- Waste Management
Questions? Email us at climatechange@state.co.us, Subject: GHG Inventory
Greenhouse Gas Metrics Dashboard
The Greenhouse Gas Metrics Dashboard in English and Spanish provides an easy-to-understand view of critical metrics that impact greenhouse gas emissions in Colorado in sectors or categories that include electricity, fossil fuels, residential-commercial-industrial (RCI) fuel use, transportation, and agriculture. The dashboard also includes data on climate equity and community engagement. Data in the dashboard is available for download. Metrics that impact emissions are automatically updated on a periodic basis, while climate equity metrics will be updated after each greenhouse gas rulemaking in Colorado.
Greenhouse Gas Rulemakings and Adopted Rules
Below is a summary of greenhouse gas rules that have been adopted by the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) and rules being developed or that have been proposed to the AQCC for rulemaking. Information and links to greenhouse gas rules that have been adopted by other rulemaking commissions, such as the Public Utilities Commission and the Colorado Transportation Commission, are also provided.
Adopted Rules
Building Performance Standards (AQCC Regulation 28)
GHG Reporting (AQCC Regulation 22)
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) Phase-Out (AQCC Regulation 22)
Recovered Methane (AQCC Regulation 22)
Clean Trucks (AQCC Regulation 20)
Colorado Transportation Commission's GHG Pollution Reduction Planning Standard
Colorado Public Utilities Commission's Clean Heat Plan
Greenhouse Gas Intensity Verification for Upstream Oil and Gas (AQCC Regulation 7)
Greenhouse Gas Credit Tracking and Trading
Access the Web Portal and Crediting Forms
- Credit Tracking and Trading Overview
To address climate change and meet the requirements of Senate Bill 21-264 related to gas utility emissions, as well as House Bill 21-1266, or the Environmental Justice Act, as it relates to greenhouse gasses (GHGs) from the Industrial and Manufacturing Sector, the Air Pollution Control Division (Division) is developing GHG emissions credit tracking and trading systems that affected entities can use to meet their emissions compliance obligations under various Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) rules.
Recovered Methane: 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 AQCC’s Recovered Methane Rule. In September 2023, to meet the requirements of Senate Bill 21-264, the Division implemented its first GHG credit system; the Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System. This system issues and tracks the use of recovered methane credits for demonstrated GHG reductions from recovered methane projects that adhere to the recovered methane protocols listed in Regulation 22, Part C, which was adopted by the AQCC in November 2022 and became effective January 14, 2023. Public and municipal gas utilities may use recovered methane credits to help demonstrate compliance with their approved Clean Heat Plans.
GEMM 2 (Industrial and Manufacturing Sector): The Division is also in the process of developing a credit trading system for affected facilities in the Industrial and Manufacturing Sector, to assist in meeting the requirements of House Bill 21-1266 (also referred to as the Environmental Justice Act). This system will issue and track GHG credits for demonstrated GHG reductions from Energy Intensive, Trade Exposed (EITE) and GEMM 2 affected facilities that adhere to the Division’s proposed rule, Regulation 27, which was adopted by the AQCC in September 2023. EITE and GEMM 2 facilities may utilize these GHG credits towards their Regulation 27 GHG emissions reduction compliance obligations.
- Credit Tracking and Trading Web Portal and Forms
The Division has established a web portal and forms for greenhouse gas credit tracking and trading, which can be accessed here. The web portal and crediting forms are available for use by entities subject to Colorado's recovered methane rule and will also include credit forms for the GEMM 2 rule requirements.
Recovered Methane: For the Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System, entities must first register in the system and then establish authorized account representatives before they can apply for, trade, or retire recovered methane credits within the system. Credit applications for recovered methane produced from eligible projects must be submitted to the Division within twelve months of the recovered methane being produced on or after January 14, 2023, which is the effective date of the rule. Recovered methane credits are active and available in the system for twelve (12) months from the original credit generation date, whether that be in an outside carbon offset registry or the Division’s Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System, after which they are automatically retired in the system and may no longer be traded or used for compliance purposes. Please see the Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document (also found in the Useful Links section below) for more details and answers to other questions regarding the recovered methane web portal and crediting forms.
If you have additional questions about the Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System, please email climatechange@state.co.us with the subject line “Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System.”
GEMM 2 (Industrial and Manufacturing Sector): The GEMM 2 Credit Trading System is currently under development. This system will be available by December 1, 2024 on the same portal as the Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System.
If you have questions about the GEMM 2 Credit Trading System, please email climatechange@state.co.us with the subject line “GEMM 2 Credit Trading System.”
- Useful Links and Resources
- CDPHE Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System Web Portal and Forms
- Colorado Recovered Methane Protocols and Crediting and Tracking System
- Recovered Methane Rule Fact Sheet
General credit tracking and trading questions? Email us at climatechange@state.co.us, Subject: Credit Tracking and Trading
Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System questions? Email us at climatechange@state.co.us, Subject: Recovered Methane Crediting and Tracking System
GEMM 2 Credit Trading System questions? Email us at climatechange@state.co.us, Subject: GEMM 2 Credit Trading System
Stakeholder Engagement and Climate Equity
Climate change is not just an environmental issue. It is also about PEOPLE and not everyone is affected equally. Coloradans are already feeling the impacts of climate change and we can all think of examples: the Marshall Fire, the Glenwood Canyon mudslide, the 2013 floods, and severe drought conditions across most of the state. Communities of color, indigenous people, low-income individuals, and people living in polluted areas are often affected by climate change more than other groups. The state is committed to use greenhouse gas reduction strategies as an opportunity to work toward racial equity and economic justice.
Community representation in the rulemaking process
Becoming a party to a rulemaking hearing can have a significant impact on the outcome. The rulemaking process is complicated, and attorneys typically represent parties. The division is working with Colorado attorneys to enhance access to legal representation during state greenhouse gas reduction rulemakings. The division maintains a list of attorneys and law clinics who may be available to provide their services pro-bono to community members and coalitions interested in becoming parties in a rulemaking. Please contact climatechange@state.co.us if you would like the current list.
The division can not endorse any specific attorney nor vouch for their credentials or abilities. The division encourages potential clients to contact and speak to more than one attorney or clinic to determine the best fit for their needs.
Participating in public comment opportunities is also an important way to provide input to a rulemaking. The division references community feedback as much as possible when proposing new regulatory language. Find upcoming opportunities to get involved on the division's public participation and outreach website.
Local Community Perspectives on Climate Change
Between April and June 2022, staff from CDPHE and several other agencies traveled the state to meet with communities and listen to their concerns about climate change and input on the state’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The report summarizing these workshops is below, along with a summary of highlights of the work undertaken and planned to address community needs and drive continuous improvement in state government to serve Colorado’s diverse residents and businesses with climate and energy solutions that work for all of Colorado.
Colorado Community Perspectives on Climate Change Report (English)
State Priority Actions (English)
Entre abril y junio de 2022, personal del CDPHE y varias otras agencias viajaron el estado para reunirse con las comunidades y escuchar sus preocupaciones sobre el cambio climático y sus aportes sobre los esfuerzos del estado para reducir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. El informe que resume estos talleres se encuentra a continuación, junto con un resumen de los aspectos más destacados del trabajo realizado y planificado para abordar las necesidades de la comunidad e impulsar la mejora continua en el gobierno estatal para servir a los diversos residentes y empresas de Colorado con soluciones climáticas y energéticas que funcionan para todo Colorado.
Perspectivas de la comunidad de Colorado sobre el cambio climático informe (Español)
Acciones prioritarias del estado (Español - coming soon / disponible pronto)
The state of Colorado developed a Climate Equity Framework to help ensure that Colorado’s response to climate change is guided by principles of racial equity and economic justice. The framework outlines the Air Pollution Control Division's plan to identify and meaningfully engage with communities who are disproportionately impacted by climate change in Colorado. The Climate Equity Framework has been developed with significant input from community members, organizations that serve and represent disproportionately impacted communities, local governments with climate equity and community engagement expertise, other state agencies, and EPA environmental justice experts. Input opportunities have ranged from large public listening sessions to small community conversations, as well as surveys and an email address for comments. Special attention has been given to making opportunities accessible by providing many meetings and materials in Spanish and offering meetings at different times of day. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many voices were undoubtedly missing from conversations that shaped the framework. The Air Pollution Control Division will continue to seek input to improve community engagement efforts and promote climate equity in Colorado.
The Climate Equity Framework:
- Provides key principles to help ensure the state’s response to climate change considers equity every step of the way,
- Shares best practices in outreach and engagement with marginalized communities,
- Outlines a plan for stakeholder engagement for greenhouse gas reduction rulemakings, and
- Provides a set of questions to help consider potential equity impacts of implementing rules.
Visit this site for more information on rules, rulemakings, and engagement efforts across the Division.
The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) meets the third Thursday (and Friday, if necessary) of the month. Information on the AQCC's meetings and calendar may be found here. Meeting materials, including agendas, minutes, and records for past and future meetings, are provided on the AQCC Google Drive.Please see the AQCC regulations page for links to all AQCC rules and regulations.
During the 2019 legislative session, Colorado adopted Senate Bill 19-236 which is contained in section 40-2-125.5 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.). This legislation directed Qualifying Retail Utilities (QRU) to submit a Clean Energy Plan (CEP) as part of their next Electric Resource Plan (ERP) filing with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The legislation also allows for voluntary CEP filings by electric cooperatives, municipals, and small investor owned utilities that do not meet the customer size threshold of a QRU.
Under House Bill 19-1261 which is contained in section 25-7-105, C.R.S., electric utilities with an approved CEP can attain regulatory certainty with the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) through 2030, commonly referred to as the “Safe Harbor” provision.
Section 40-2-125.5(4)(VIII), C.R.S., requires that the Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) consult with the AQCC prior to participating in the CEP proceedings at the PUC and submitting the emissions verification reports, although the requirements for the consultation are not described in the statute. To demonstrate the consultation requirement, the APCD developed a CEP guidance document and verification workbook through a collaborative process, which can be found below.
Draft verification report
In the Clean Energy Plan verification process, the Division utilizes output data from the utility's resource planning process to ensure that emissions calculations are performed properly and accurately calculate the 2030 percent reduction from the 2005 baseline.
Senate Bill 23-198 directs the division to publish and solicit public comments on the draft report and associated calculation workbook when performing the verification of a voluntary Clean Energy Plan.
View the Division’s draft verification report and draft verification workbook for CORE Electric Cooperative.
Public comments can be emailed to cdphe.commentsapcd@state.co.us (subject: CEP) and will be accepted through Wednesday December 20, 2023.
Overview: To address climate change and meet requirements from Senate Bill 21-264 (SB21-264), the Air Pollution Control Division (the Division) will consult with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) related to the calculation methodology for evaluating clean heat plans for gas utilities. Starting in 2023, gas utilities are required to submit clean heat plans to the Public Utilities Commission or the Division to verify that they are designed to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets. More information on the rulemaking can be found on the PUC's website.
Clean Heat Plan Emissions Calculation Guidance
The Air Pollution Control Division has published the Clean Heat Plan Emissions Calculation Guidance and Clean Heat Plan Calculation Workbook. The published documents can be found here. The Division has created these documents through a technical stakeholder process to develop a consistent approach to evaluating the emissions reduction projections from Clean Heat Plans required by Senate Bill 21-264.
Clean Heat Technical Work Groups
To help develop clean heat plan evaluation requirements, the Division convened a clean heat technical work group. Technical work group meetings were open to the public.
House Bill 19-1261 (GHG Emissions Reduction Goals)
House Bill 21-1266 (Environmental Justice and GHG Reporting in APENs)
House Bill 21-1286 (Building Performance Standards)
House Bill 22-1362 (Energy Codes)
Senate Bill 19-096 (GHG Reporting)
Senate Bill 19-181 (Oil and Gas)
Senate Bill 19-236 (PUC Clean Energy Plans)
Senate Bill 21-264 (Clean Heat & Recovered Methane)
Senate Bill 23-016 (Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Measures)
Senate Bill 23-198 (Clean Energy Plans Verification)
House Bill 23-1161 (Environmental Standards for Appliances)
Colorado PUC Legislative Updates
In the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap, the state of Colorado identified CCUS as having a potential role in meeting the emission targets established in HB19-1261. In 2021, the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) established a task force for CCUS to further investigate how CCUS could be appropriately enabled, deployed, and regulated (see below). Building on this and other efforts, Governor Polis directed the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) to prepare a legislative proposal to address the legal changes necessary to achieve a comprehensive regulatory regime for CCUS in Colorado and create sequestration opportunities in the state. The COGCC released its legislative proposal in February 2023.
Creating Colorado’s Carbon Sequestration Framework: A Legislative Proposal
In February 2022, the Colorado CCUS Task Force released its recommendations regarding the role that CCUS can play in meeting the state’s emissions targets. The Task Force evaluation included an inventory of existing initiatives and recent publications that analyze or identify carbon capture, transport, utilization, and storage opportunities in Colorado, as well as the development of recommendations regarding CCUS in Colorado. More information on the CCUS Task Force and its final report and recommendations may be found here.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or comments about the Climate Change Program and our work, please email climatechange@state.co.us with a specific subject line to ensure your email is routed to the appropriate person or group.
Stay up-to-date on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's efforts to reduce GHGs, Climate Equity, and other air quality issues by signing up for e-mail updates.