Environment Colorado Blog

Colorado Experts Testify on Global Warming

By khay - 4/10/2008 As several experts made clear in testifying in support of House Bill 1164, Colorado's future is in gold- the gold of clean, abundant energy supplied from the sun.

Mining exploration kept “top secret”

By Matt Garrington - 04/03/2008 Petty politics trumped reason and the environment today as House Bill 1165 was voted down on Wednesday (4/1) in the Colorado House Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Committee. Our legislature failed to lift the veil of secrecy that surrounds mining, and we're disappointed in those representatives who sided with the mining industry over Coloradans and our environment.

Ritter introduces critical plan to slash CO2 emissions

By Matt Baker - 11/06/2007 Yesterday, Governor Ritter released his Climate Change Action Plan that calls for an overall reduction in Colorado’s global warming pollution 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050.

Fight Global Warming Invest In Clean Energy Event

By Matt Baker - 10/26/2007 If we can put a man on the moon we can beat Global Warming. Congressman Jay Inslee and Bracken Hendricks recently wrote a book that outlines a critical strategy in overcoming Global Warming. They are speaking at the Tattered Cover this weekend so check it out.

Colorado Utility Denied Air Permit for 1400 Megawatt Coal Plant

By Matt Baker - 10/18/2007 Tri-State Generation and Transmission (Westminster, CO) who provides power to 44 rural electric cooperatives in 4 states, was denied a crucial Air Permit needed to begin construction on a 1400 MW facility.

Al Gore Wins Nobel Peace Prize

By Matt Baker - 10/12/2007 Environment Colorado congratulates former Vice President Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on receiving this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. We also thank them for their years of work and public education about the dangers presented by Global Warming.

Climate Panel Sets a Goal

By Matt Baker - 09/13/2007 The Rocky Mountain Climate Organization's Climate Panel set a goal for reducing Global Warming Pollution by 20% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. While this did not go as far as many of us wanted in the 2020 time frame it is a step forward.

Why we care about new coal plants

By Matt Baker - 09/07/2007 There are two critical aspects of dealing with Global Warming if we are to stabilize carbon emissions. The first is to begin to get us on the road to the New Energy Future. That involves doing the research on clean technologies, creating markets and developing the infrastructure for the new energy economy. The second is to stop investing in and subsidizing the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide.

What's the Matter in Kansas?

By Matt Baker - 08/31/2007 What do Truman Capote, the Governor of Kansas, and Loretta Lynn have in common? Holcomb Kansas, that is the answer, but why should an Environment Colorado member care?

Some surprising tips on reducing global warming

By Matt Baker - 08/20/2007 Today I googled "global warming tips" to find a list of simple ways that each of us can help reduce our global warming pollution. I found a lot of things that most of us already know about...replacing light bulbs, carpooling, turning down the thermostat, etc. But I wanted to share with you a couple of tips that I found that I hadn't heard before.

Can't stand the heat?

By Matt Baker - 08/14/2007 Yesterday the Denver Metro area topped out at 99 degrees setting an all time record. While any particularly hot day may have nothing to do with Global Warming, the planet is getting warmer and that is affecting our weather.

Oil and Gas Income Study - Not all it's cracked up to be.

By Matt Baker - 08/07/2007 A recent report released by the School of Mines and Booz Allen Hamilton Consulting would lead Coloradoans to believe that the Oil and Gas industry is the largest industry in the state. The report states that this industry provides $22.9 billion dollars of economic output, supports 70,000 jobs, and generates over $1,500 in taxes. While the Oil and Gas industry is certainly a key factor in Colorado’s economy – it is by no means the largest. In fact, Retirees actually contribute more to personal income; 23% of the total personal income in Colorado vs. the 1.6% from the oil and gas industry.

Who pays for Sprawl?

By Matt Baker - 7/27/07 To expand, or not to expand – that is the question, or is it? When contemplating growth, expansion is assumed. Adding more people to the Denver Metro Region has inevitably led to a greater amount of land experiencing urban development. But is this the best way for the Region to grow? Perhaps communities should be asking HOW we can grow so as to minimize costs and maintain Colorado’s exquisite quality of life.

Expanding the Denver Growth Area

By Matt Baker - 7/27/2007 To expand, or not to expand – that is the question, or is it? When contemplating growth, expansion is assumed. Adding more people to the Denver Metro Region has inevitably led to a greater amount of land experiencing urban development. But is this the best way for the Region to grow? Perhaps communities should be asking HOW we can grow so as to minimize costs and maintain Colorado’s exquisite quality of life.

Why is the State Land Board Increasing our Transportation costs?

By Matt Baker - 7/13/2007 There is a battle brewing inside the Denver Council of Regional Governments around expanding the urban growth boundary. Jefferson, Douglas, Adams and Arapahoe county, want to be able to develop more unincorporated areas. They are united against the regions cities who make the case we should focus development in the already developed areas.

Solar Hot Water

By Matt Baker - 7/8/2007 One issue that didn't quite make it onto the bandwagon of last spring's slew of legislation was Solar Thermal, specifically solar hot water heaters. Solar hot water systems are a technology that offer an excellent opportunity to reduce our use of conventional fuels such as propane and natural gas, save consumers money, and protect our environment.

Live Earth in Boulder and Denver

By Matt Baker - 7/5/2007 This Saturday, global warming is going to be the talk of the town. In fact, it's going to be the talk of the world as the Live Earth concerts - spanning 24 hours and all seven continents - turns the eyes of the world toward action on global warming.

Colorado Needs a New Impact Fee on Oil and Gas

By Matt Baker - 7/2/2007 Last week, State Senator Josh Penry and Assemblyman Al White proposed a creating a 'Permanent Fund' to be used for higher education. The Fund would come from the state's share of the royalties from oil and gas development in the Roan Plateau. We don't believe we need to rush development of the Roan, but the Penry/White proposal raises some very important issues.

Clean Cars are Safe Cars

By Matt Baker - 6/26/2007 Increased fuel economy standards are compatible with safety. Some people may oppose clean cars because they view clean cars as dangerous alternative to their existing vehicles. But the science shows that safety will not be compromised with new standards.

Denver areas counties seek to bust the growth boundary

By Matt Baker - 6/24/2007 Last Wednesday, the DRCOG board voted to expand the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) by 17.2 sq. miles at last night's meeting with the caveat of modeling the expansion and verifying that the expanded development would comply with clean air standards.

Should DRCOG Permit More Sprawl?

By Matt Baker - 6/20/2007 Tonight the Denver Region Council of Governments (DRCOG) will decide decision on how much Sprawl to permit in the region. In 1997, DRCOG created an Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) designed to promote efficient smart growth. The idea was to use planning tools to shape how the region grows to save money, improve mobility and sustain a high quality of life in the region.

Colorado should join the Western Climate Initiative

By Matt Baker - 6/19/2007 The Western Climate Initiative grew its membership this week at an annual meeting of Western Governors. The goal of the Initiative is to enable western states to reduce their global warming pollution and to do so by way of a regional cap-and-trade system.

Legislative Leadership Testifies for Clean Cars and States Rights

By Matt Baker - 6/14/2007 The leaders of the Colorado State House and Senate submitted testimony supporting California's petition to the EPA to allow states to set stricter vehicle emissions standards. Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff wrote a letter to the EPA administrator Stephen Johnson on May 28th explaining that global warming must me addressed as Colorado is beginning to feel its effects. He noted the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warnings that global warming could threaten water security intensify the wildfire season and increase heat waves.

Auto Industry tries to deep six fuel efficiency standards

By Matt Baker - 6/13/2007 Today's Denver Post featured a full page ad from the auto industry asking Coloradans to call on Senator Salazar to oppose higher fuel efficiency standards. They make three (disingenuous) points.

Denver's Greenprint and the Rocky Mountain News

By Matt Baker - 6/12/2007 Today's Rocky Mountain News featured a Stuart Steers article on the bizarre reaction to the City of Denver's Green print. Some national advocates of a 'Do Nothing' approach to global warming are criticizing the City for using global warming to impose communism on the city. In fact the opposite is true!