Overview
In 2021, the Colorado legislature adopted House Bill 21-1266 (Environmental Justice Act), which requires the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) to establish a fee for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. GHGs include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), and are evaluated based on the total carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). The purpose of the fee is to cover the ongoing costs of the Division in administering its climate change program. The Air Pollution Control Division (Division) is currently planning to propose a rule to establish a fee for GHG emissions later in 2023. As part of the process the Division will also be considering increasing existing fees for other pollutants to support implementation of multiple air quality related actions passed by the legislature in recent years. The timing for such an action is still being considered.
Learn More and Provide Input
- Check out the GHG Fee Rule Fact Sheet / Hoja informativa sobre la regla de tarifas de GEI (en español)
- Share your input by filling out this comment form (Note all comments are publicly available but contact information will not be shared.)
- Stay up-to-date on this rulemaking and other ways the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air quality issues by signing up for email updates.
Public Input Opportunities
Public Listening Session #2
Saturday, June 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. via Zoom
Spanish interpretation will be provided.
Public Listening Session #1
Thursday, March 2nd from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom
Previous Stakeholder Meetings
In response to directives in HB 21-1266 to include GHGs in the list of pollutants required to be reported on an Air Pollutant Emissions Notice (APEN) and in preparation for establishing GHG fees, the AQCC adopted GHG APEN requirements in December 2022. Information about that stakeholder outreach and rulemaking can be found below. The rulemaking documents can be viewed on the AQCC website here.
A public outreach session on proposed GHG APEN requirements was held on April 19, 2022 slides, fact sheets, and meeting recording below.