A Colorado natural gas processor will pay a $3.25 million fine in a settlement with federal and state air pollution officials, after allegations the company failed to detect and repair leaks that contributed to worsening ozone problems on the northern Front Range. DCP Operating Company LP and five related subsidiaries will pay the fines and […]
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Posted inClimate, Environment, Health, News
Environmental group sues to get EPA to crack down on Colorado’s record ozone violations
The Environmental Protection Agency unlawfully approved a weak ozone-reduction plan from Colorado regulators, and should do far more to limit oil and gas drilling and other pollution in the Denver metro area, according to a new lawsuit filed Tuesday by the Center for Biological Diversity. The lawsuit demanding the EPA reject Colorado’s state implementation plan […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, Environment, Equity, Health, News
Colorado’s legislative efforts are not enough to solve its Front Range ozone problem
By Jim Robbins, KHN A year after health officials issued a record number of alerts for high ozone levels on Colorado’s Front Range, federal and state officials are trying to rein in the gas that can make outdoor activities a health risk. But new Colorado laws aimed at improving air quality along that urban corridor east […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Switching from natural gas to electricity will reduce Colorado’s smog
The news in April that federal regulators have proposed downgrading the ozone status for Denver and the northern Front Range from “serious” to “severe” should come as a wakeup call. Our region has a major smog problem. As our city, county, and state leaders develop plans and budgets to deliver the air-quality relief our communities […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Sens. Fenberg, Gonzales, Hansen and Winter: Say goodbye to the brown cloud
Everyone deserves to breathe clean, healthy air, regardless of their ZIP Code. Unfortunately, that is not the case for far too many of our neighbors, and it impacts kids, older Coloradans, and folks in disadvantaged communities the hardest. Last summer, Denver had the worst air quality in the world. The Northern Front Range was recently […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, Equity, Health, News
How Colorado’s changing climate is putting children’s health at risk
This March, Colorado State Sen. Faith Winter stood at a podium in the State Capitol and spoke to a gathered crowd about reducing the state’s air pollution. After introductions, Winter, Gov. Jared Polis and others unveiled a package of environmental bills that aim to increase access to public transit, build more energy efficient buildings, and construct safe […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, News
Colorado will have hundreds more air pollution sources to permit. Here’s how the state is gearing up.
The EPA downgrade of Northern Front Range ozone pollution to “severe” from “serious” on Tuesday will require hundreds of Colorado companies to get emission permits from a critically backlogged state system, but health officials say their request for a steep budget increase from lawmakers will clear the jam and improve the air. State health officials […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, News
EPA downgrades Colorado’s ozone problem to “severe,” forcing stricter cuts to pollution
The EPA has downgraded Colorado’s North Front Range ozone problem to “severe” from “serious,” a long-expected move that requires state and local officials to take stronger runs at cutting the health-damaging pollution. “The proposed reclassifications would require the State of Colorado to apply more stringent air quality measures to sources across the area,” an EPA […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, News
Environmental coalition demands Colorado speed up clean truck rules, citing long delays in air pollution cuts
A coalition of Colorado environmental groups has filed a petition with the Air Quality Control Commission demanding they finish rules for cleaner trucks by the end of this year, saying they are harming Colorado residents through a series of delays in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and ozone. The AQCC should order staff at the Air […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: No, natural gas should not be part of our energy mix
In their op-ed titled “Natural gas should remain a key option in Colorado’s clean-energy mix,” the authors would have us believe that, long-term, natural gas should be part of the mix for our state’s goals for ending the use of fossil fuels. Let’s be clear: When we have ended the use of fossil fuels, natural […]