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New Data Shows Colorado is Off Track to Meet Emission Reduction Goals

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WildEarth Gaurdians

New research released last week by MJ Bradley & Associates shows that Colorado is off-course to meet emissions standards mandated in last year’s House Bill 1261. KDNK’s Lucas Turner has more.

  Over 50 nonprofit organizations submitted joint letters to the State’s Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) last week demanding that the Polis Administration take steps to immediately reduce emissions. Last year the State of Colorado passed House Bill 19-1261, committing to reduce economy-wide carbon emissions at least 26% from 2005 levels by 2025, 50% by 2030, and 90% by 2050. The AQCC is required to propose rules to meet these targets by July 1, 2020.

To meet the goals, the state would need to reduce carbon emissions by 46 million metric tons. Recently passed zero-emissions vehicle standards in the state will achieve an estimated 2.7 million metric tons of reductions. Other ambitious initiatives, including the plan to retire every coal plant in the state and replace them with 100% renewable energy by 2030 would still leave a gap of 25 million metric tons.

Organizations demanding more drastic action from the Polis Administration include Colorado Rising, Extinction Rebellion, the Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate, and 350 Colorado, among others. Extinction Rebellion’s Michael Denslow says “This is an emergency, and we need to start acting like it.”