We sorted through new and tantalizing layers of federal, state, Xcel and local credits for buying clean heat pumps, water heaters and more
CoPIRG
Posted inEnvironment
Colorado prepares to “mine” key materials from the recycling bin ahead of new law taking effect in 2026
New laws are set to move the needle on the state’s “abysmal” recycling rate of only 16%, advocates and industry leaders say
Posted inClimate, Energy, News
Regional board to approve ozone action plan, but a Colorado coalition wants much more done
The northern Front Range’s newest plan to meet federal ozone-reduction mandates comes with a rare upfront admission that it won’t work. The Regional Air Quality Council, a nonprofit board of experts and local officials charged with writing the state’s ozone compliance plan, will decide Friday on the latest proposals for trimming the hazardous ground-level gas. […]
Posted inEnvironment, News
Denver wants a major recycling expansion. But it needs to start charging fees to get it done.
Denver residents would pay a monthly fee for garbage hauling while getting recycling and compost bins picked up weekly as part of the deal, in a proposed major overhaul of waste handling aimed at lifting local and statewide recycling rates closer to the national average. Residents of single-family homes and apartments up to seven units […]
Posted inNews
Advocates want to charge companies to create a statewide recycling program in Colorado
State Sen. Kevin Priola had his recycling epiphany while staring at an empty pizza box. The grease stains on the lid spelled it out for the Henderson Republican: Colorado recycles only about 15% of its waste because recycling is too hard. Even a dedicated recycler like Priola was surprised to learn that cardboard with food […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Politics and Government
As “forever chemical” concerns mount, Colorado lawmakers move to ban product sales
The sale of many products containing the dangerous “forever chemicals” known as PFAS would be banned in Colorado as early as 2024, under legislation to be introduced this week and backed by a host of consumer and environmental groups. Toxic PFAS chemicals, used as lubricants and repellants in products ranging from firefighting foam to clothing […]
Posted inBusiness, Environment, News
Colorado has a dismal recycling rate. Could a fee on manufacturers turn things around?
In Boulder, where every resident automatically receives access to recycling and composting services, more than half of the city’s waste is diverted from landfills. But in many Colorado cities and towns, residents who want to recycle must pay extra, or make a trip to recycling centers. The discrepancy between the relative ease of recycling in […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, News
Your definitive – for now – Q&A for electric vehicles in Colorado
The Consumer Reports survey says it all: While 70% of U.S. drivers said last year they would consider buying an electric vehicle next, only 30% of drivers said they knew much about them. To close that yawning 40% knowledge gap, there’s a lot of work ahead — for automakers, conservation groups promoting electrification, utilities and […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, Environment, News
Colorado’s consumer advocate gets wider climate powers and a new name
The state watchdog Office of Consumer Counsel announced a name change Wednesday and broader powers to intervene against utilities on behalf of the public in areas like climate change, career changes for energy workers and environmental justice for pollution-impacted communities. The renamed Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate is also hiring additional attorneys for the […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Transportation
Colorado violates EPA ozone standards again as business groups cheer gutting of draft commuting limits
On the same day environmental groups called out Colorado officials for missing a key EPA deadline to clean up ozone pollution violations widely attributed to driving, business groups declared victory in weakening the state’s new set of rules to reduce air pollution caused by employee car commutes. The double whammy was not lost on conservationists, […]