Climate Fast Facts: Colorado

Climate & Energy Resources

• Latest Climate Science (Union of Concerned Scientists)
• Global Warming & Colorado (National Wildlife Federation)
• Cost of Delay (Environmental Defense Fund)
• Meeting the International Clean Energy and Climate Change Challenges (The White House)

Jobs

Colorado has begun to be a destination for clean energy investment. The state could gain 28,000 jobs and about $2.6 billion in investment revenue if $150 billion was invested in clean energy nationwide, and drop unemployment by 1 percent.

• Clean-Energy Investments Create Jobs in Colorado (Center for American Progress/PERI)
• Colorado: Green Prosperity and Poverty Reduction (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• Clean Energy Jobs in Colorado (Environmental Defense Fund)
• Clean Energy and Climate Policies Lead to Economic Growth in Colorado (Environmental Entrepreneurs)

Opportunity

Colorado has the potential to be the centerpiece of our nation’s wind power generation, currently ranking 6^th in overall generation and 11^th in potential generation. Committing to a 30 percent growth in solar in the United States would bring over 700 jobs and over $575 million in investments to Colorado. Under the ACES bill Colorado would receive $545 million for expanded energy efficiency investments, $342 million for natural gas efficiency investments.

• ACES Funding for Efficiency Investments- CO (Environment Northeast)
• Charting a New Path for Colorado’s Electricity Generation and Use (National Wildlife Federation)
• The Clean Energy Economy: Colorado (Pew Center)
• Renewable Energy Works: Colorado

Cut Costs

The average family in Colorado would save $4.47 per month on their energy bills and a $5.08 per month on vehicle fuel costs if the American Clean Energy and Security Act was enacted.

• Climate Bill Cuts Electricity Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• Climate-Protection Policies Cut Fuel Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• Summary of Competitiveness Provisions in ACES (Center for Clean Air Policy)
• Carbon Cap Critics Predict Healthy Economy in Colorado under Cap-and-Trade (PERI/UMASS)
• Clean Energy, Green Jobs: A National Renewable Electricity Standard Will Boost the Economy and Protect the Environment (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Climate Consequences

The Colorado climate has already warmed by approximately 1°F, a figure that could rise to 7°F by 2060. Decreased snowpack at the sources of Colorado’s rivers, comprising 75 percent of the river’s flow, means dire consequences for the region’s most important source of water. The loss of water will also exacerbate Colorado’s forest fires. Less snow will also put a strain on Colorado’s vibrant winter sport tourism industries.

• Protecting Colorado’s Economy, Communities and Environment from Global Warming (The Wilderness Society)
• Human Health Impacts of Global Warming on Colorado (Pew Center)
• Global Climate Change Impacts on the U.S.: Southwest Assessment (Union of Concerned Scientists)
• Hotter Fields, Lower Yields: Global Warming's Impact on Agriculture (Environment America)

• Climate Change in the United States: The Prohibitive Costs of Inaction (Union of Concerned Scientists)

State Actions

While Congress debates climate and energy legislation on the Hill, Colorado is quickly becoming one of the leaders in state climate legislation. Colorado has written a climate action plan, and is an observer of the Western Climate Initiative’s cap-and-trade system. The state also has set renewable energy portfolio standard, energy efficiency resource standards, financial incentives for biofuels and set a state emissions target of 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.

• Colorado Climate Action Plan
• Repower Colorado (Alliance for Climate Protection)
• State Action on Global Warming (Pew Center on Climate Change) (see maps on state actions)

Regulating Carbon Markets

• Five Reasons Why Trading Allowances Will Help Meet Our Climate Objectives (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• The Senate’s Role in Getting Carbon Market Regulation Right (Natural Resources Defense Council)

News & Opinon

• Colo. and Climate Change (Denver Daily News)
• Group: Pass More Stringent Climate Bill (Denver Daily News)
• An Ag Perspective on Clean Energy (Berthoud Recorder)
• Legislation Will Benefit Region (Coloradoan)