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During the 2024 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures related to natural resources and environment; including addressing oil and gas production, renewable energy, and sustainability.

Report No. 2024-TE8

Legislative Council Staff produces greenhouse gas emissions reports (GHG reports) that estimate the emissions impact of certain bills. Utilization of these reports has been low. The reports repeal following the 2025 session unless extended by legislation.

Greenhouse gas emissions have been identified by the global scientific community as the major driver of climate change.  Globally, countries are committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to combat the effects of climate change.  This memorandum provides background on the policies and programs related to greenhouse gas emissions reductions at the national, regional, and state levels within the United States.

As the energy industry diversifies and demand to decarbonize the economy increases, interest in nuclear energy has increased in recent years. Any future nuclear energy development will involve next generation technology, which differs from traditional nuclear energy projects. This issue brief discusses the role of nuclear power in Colorado energy policy, advances in nuclear energy techology, and factors that may impact future policy decisions.

Colorado has a uniquely diverse landscape. From the plains of the eastern front to the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains, the state’s energy profile includes coal and natural resources as well as renewable energy, such as wind, solar, and geothermal. Capitalizing on the diversity of resources and in response to increased energy demands, the General Assembly considered several measures related to energy and natural resources during the 2025 legislative session.

This memorandum provides a brief history of the federal Clean Air Act; describes common air pollutants and their health impacts; outlines Colorado’s air quality issues and state programs; and lists recently enacted state legislation that aims to improve the state’s air quality.  

Memo No. 2023-TE22

During the 2023 legislative session the General Assembly considered several measures related to energy and natural resources including clean energy; wildfire; and going green at home.

Geothermal energy refers to heat that is found within the Earth.  This heat can be used in a number of ways through geothermal energy systems.  First, it can be used to directly heat buildings, where hot water near the earth’s surface is piped into buildings.  Second, it can be used indirectly using ground source heat pumps, which transfer heat from the ground or hot water reservoirs into buildings in the winter, a process that is reversed in the summer to cool buildings.  And finally, steam from hot water reservoirs can be used to generate electricity.

Report No. 2022-TE13

This memorandum provides information on state tax expenditures for renewable energy resources.  State tax expenditures include individual and corporate income tax credits, deductions, and exemptions, and sales and use tax exemptions.  Renewable energy resources include solar, wind, geothermal, greenhouse gas neutral biomass, and certain hydroelectricity, as defined in Colorado Statute under the Renewable Energy Standard.  

During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several energy‑related measures.  These bills addressed the Public Utilities Commission’s operations, the Colorado Energy Office’s funding, renewable energy, electricity generation, transmission and use, and oil and gas.

In 2019, the General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 19-181, which changes how the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) in the Department of Natural Resources regulates the development of oil and natural gas in Colorado. Since July 2019, the COGCC has conducted rulemaking hearings to adopt rules required in the bill. This memorandum summarizes Senate Bill 19-181 and the new rules adopted by the COGCC as of December 2020.

In 2019, Colorado enacted House Bill 19-1261, establishing statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals.  Colorado also enacted Senate Bill 19‑096, requiring the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to promulgate rules to collect and report on GHG data and to implement measures to meet these GHG emissions reduction goals.

The Legislative Council Staff's Energy Handbook is intended to serve as a reference guide to Colorado's energy sector.  The book is divided into five sections.  Section I covers the sources and uses of energy in Colorado.  Section II explains how severance taxes and federal mineral lease moneys are calculated and distributed.  Section III looks at energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.  Section IV provides an overview of the state departments involved in energy issues.  Section V highlights local governments' role in energy.  The handbook also includes t

This memorandum provides an overview of the financial incentives for solar power offered by utilities in Colorado, as well as other incentives, including net metering programs and state tax incentives.

During the 2020 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a variety of issues related to energy, including consumer protection and bill assistance; energy efficiency in new construction; renewable energy; and natural gas.

Some U.S. cities have adopted legislation to limit or restrict the use of natural gas systems in new construction, instead requiring building systems or appliances to be powered by electricity.  In response to these natural gas prohibitions, some states have enacted legislation prohibiting cities from restricting natural gas systems in new construction.  This issue brief provides background on the issue and how it applies to Colorado.

Community choice energy (CCE) is an alternative to the investor-owned utility energy supply system that allows local entities to aggregate individual customers within a defined service area and secure alternative energy suppliers on their behalf.  The primary goals of CCEs have been to lower costs for energy customers and allow greater control of the energy mix, particularly through increasing the proportion of renewable energy that is supplied. 

This memorandum provides an overview of how energy consumption and usage has changed as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), and how Colorado utilities are responding.

This issue brief provides an overview of critical infrastructure, discusses a 2019 cyberattack on the U.S. electrical grid, and summarizes state and federal legislation addressing security for critical infrastructure.

Report No. 2020-TE9

Report No. 2020-TE3

Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Energy Legislation Review Interim Study Committee.