Jun 2008 - Colorado Climate Action Plan

COLORADO CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
A STRATEGY TO ADDRESS GLOBAL WARMING
Governor Bill Ritter, Jr.

Colorado’s Primary Energy Use, 2004
Primary energy use, 2001: 1.27 quadrillion Btus
Primary energy use, 2004: 1.38 quadrillion Btus
End use (%)
Nat. Gas: 32%
Coal: 29%
Transportation:
30%
Residential:
22%
Commercial:
21%
Industrial: 27%
Petroleum: 37%
Renewables:
2%
Includes hydropower, wood, solar, wind,
geothermal and waste materials.
Source: Energy Information Agency (EIA)

U.S. Power Supply Mix – 2006
19%
6% 2%
48%
22%
2%
Coal Petroleum Nat. Gas Nuclear Hydro Renewables

Energy Is A Precious Resource
• Modern energy the
.
foundation of our
.
prosperity
• Without it, virtually
everything ends
- Potable Water
- Automated transportation
- Most agriculture
- Electricity
- Health care
- Etc. etc.
• Energy has been the
environment’s best friend
SIMMONS & COMPANY
INTERNATIONAL

A New Energy Economy for
Colorado
"At a time when concern about our economy is growing and American
families are struggling with high energy costs, (we) have proposed
policies that will take advantage of renewable energy resources like
wind, solar and biofuels.
In Colorado, we call this the New Energy Economy. By creating a 21st
century energy policy, we are creating jobs, revitalizing the economy,
protecting the environment and helping secure our nation's energy
future." Governor Ritter, National Radio Address, 12-1-07

New Energy Economy
Focus on Energy/Economy/Environment
Realigning the objectives of the Governor’s Energy Office
Climate Action Plan
Appointments to the COPUC
Active at the Western Governors’ Association
2007 Legislative accomplishment:
HB07-1281 - Doubling Amendment 37 RPS
HB07-1037 - Demand Side Management Policy
HB07-1150 – Create the Clean Energy Development Authority
SB07-091 – Mapping of Colorado’ Renewable Resources
SB07-100 – Renewable Energy Zones and Transmission Cost Recovery
2008 Legislative accomplishment:
HB08-1160 - Statewide Net Metering Policy
HB08-1164 – Central Solar Power Policy

Vestas’ head of North American operations gives details
on Windsor site:
• 75 acre site.
• 200,000 square foot factory.
• 35 White-collar jobs
• 455 Blue-collar jobs
• $60 million investment by Vestas
• Started production in early 2008
• Wind turbine manufacturing plant announced recently: 650 more jobs!
The good news is that effective address of climate change
means good economic development opportunities

Additional examples of new businesses in Colorado:
• Multiple new wind farms – Twin Buttes outside of Lamar
the most recent
• Groundbreaking on a new sunflower biodiesel plant in
Dove Creek
• New 8 MW solar plant in the San Luis Valley
• BP plans to build a new wind farm in Weld County
• Another new wind farm in Baca County, too
• Opening new E-85 ethanol pumps all around the state
• New pellet plant from woody biomass opening in Grand
County

If
Planet
Earth...
were
the size
of an Apple,
Then her life-giving atmosphere
would be thinner than an Apple’s peel!

“We are realizing the dangers of global
warming and climate change – brought on
largely by old-style production and
consumption habits – as we witness startling
environmental changes around the
globe…Statewide snow packs are expected
to be reduced by as much as 50% or more
by the year 2085. We are not talking about
just global warming, we are talking about
local warming.
As Colorado’s Governor, through energy
efficiency and other clean energy efforts, I
will put in place programs to reduce
substantially the type of carbon emissions
that cause global warming.”
-Governor Bill Ritter

Colorado & US Emissions By
Sector Year 2000
Colorado
Res/Com
Fuel Use
10%
Industrial
Fuel Use
9%
Fossil Fuel
Industry
(CH4) 8%
Transport
23%
Industrial
Process
2%
Waste
3%
Agriculture
9%
Electricity
Consumption
36%
US
Res/Com
Fuel Use
9%
Industrial
Fuel Use
14%
Fossil
Fuel Ind.
(CH4) 3%
Transport
26%
Electricity
32%
Industrial
Process
5%
Waste
4%
Agric.
7%

Gross Colorado GHG Emissions By Sector
1990-2020
MMtCO2e
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
Electricity (Consumption Based)
RCI Fuel Use
Transportation Diesel Use
Agriculture
Other Ind. Process
Fossil Fuel Industry
Transportation Gasoline Use
Jet Fuel/Other Transportation
ODS Substitutes
Waste Management
0
1990 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Two GHG Reduction Goals:
• 20% below 2005 levels by 2020
• 80% below 2005 levels by 2050

Recognize Agriculture as Part of the Solution
• Encourage agricultural
emissions reductions by
establishing a carbon market
• Encourage emission-intensive
industries to buy carbon
offset credits from farmers
and ranchers in Colorado and
the West.

Transportation

Clean Cars
The Governor will issue an
Executive Order directing the
Air Quality Control Division to
propose clean car standards to
the Air Quality Control
Commission with the next 12-24
months ensuring that regulations
preserve consumer choice.

Other Transportation
Measures
•Expedited broadband access across state to expand
telecommuting options for all workers;
• Better recognition of connection between land use and
transportation
• Governor’s Annual Excellence in Sustainability Awards
Program

Provide Reliable and Sustainable
Electricity
• Electric utilities to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 20% by 2020
• Implement cost-effective energy efficiency
measures
• Expand renewable energy resources
• Fund research for and make use of new
advanced coal technologies

Research and Development of Clean Coal,
Natural Gas, and Renewable Energy Sources
• Partner with industry and research institutions to
develop advanced coal technology
• Encourage prevention of methane leakage from
natural gas drilling
• Promote new energy resource technologies
through the Colorado Renewable Energy
Collaboratory

Lead by Example
• Launch the Governor’s Energy
Office “Best Practices” website
• Reduce state government
energy consumption by 20% by
2012
• Reduce petroleum use in state
vehicle fleet by 25% by 2012
• Establish state government
wasted diversion goal of 75%
by 2020 and implement threebin
strategy throughout state
government
• Improve energy efficiency of
state buildings and K-12
schools
• Increase E-85 fueling stations
statewide

Colorado Carbon Fund
Overview
This new voluntary carbon offset program is being
established to advance the following objectives:
• Develop a funding source for community-based clean
energy and climate mitigation projects in Colorado
• Provide high quality, credible offsets for individuals,
businesses and government agencies interested in
mitigating their carbon footprint
• Support Colorado’s climate change mitigation
objectives

Colorado Carbon Fund
Potential Projects
• Energy efficiency (homes, businesses, institutions,
affordable housing)
• Renewable energy (biomass, solar domestic hot water)
• Methane capture (anaerobic digesters for animal waste,
landfill gas)
• Transportation (hybrid bus fleets)
• Down the road – ag sequestration and forestry
**Direct vs. indirect emissions reductions

Regional Carbon Emissions Trading
• Continue to serve as observers in the Western
Climate Initiative
• Call for federal government adoption of
national global warming strategy
• If Congress and the President fail to agree on
national carbon credit trading program, join
the Western Climate Initiative

Foster an Educated
Workforce
• Partner with K-12
educators to develop and
teach sustainability
curricula
• Partner with higher
education to educate the
workforce needed for the
New Energy Economy
• Utilize the Governor’s
Jobs Cabinet to help
create a well-trained
workforce

Adapt to Climate
Change
• Investigate vulnerabilities of the
state’s water supplies to climate
change
• Analyze impacts on interstate
water compacts
• Plan for severe drought,
flooding, wildfires, and other
risks of climate change
• Promote new job creation and
lower costs for consumers

Five Ways You Can Fight Climate Change
• Travel Smart
– Walk or ride a bike
– Ride the bus
– Drive a hybrid car
– Combine trips
– Keep tires inflated to manufacturer’s recommended limit
• Waste not, Watt not
– Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents
– Turn off lights when you don’t need them
• Buy green power
– If your electric utility offers wind power, buy it
– Install solar panels on your home
– Ask your electric utility to increase its renewable power portfolio

Five Ways You Can Fight
Climate Change (Contd.)
• Live smart at home
– Insulate your water heater and hot
water pipes
– In summer, open windows at night to
cool your house
– Lower the thermostat in the winter
– Buy only Energy Star appliances
– Get an energy audit for your home
and act on the results
– Use caulking and weather stripping
to seal windows and doors
• Reduce – Reuse – Recycle
– Don’t buy products in nonrecyclable
packaging
– Buy recycled/recyclable products
– Use reusable shopping bags
– Recycle household waste

The Greenhouse Gas
Registry
• Three step process
– Gather data
– Verify data using third party
certifiers
– Report data publicly
• Will be voluntary, then
mandatory

Examples of entities
that can participate
• Utilities
• Power generators
• Cement manufacturing
• Mining
• Large manufacturers
• Landfills and sanitation
districts
• Cities, counties and state
agencies

Colorado Climate Action Plan
Please view full report on-line:
http://www.colorado.gov/governor

Heidi.vangenderen@state.co.us
Office of the Governor