INTRODUCTION
Colorado has established itself as a national leader in renewable energy production and climate change mitigation. Recently, plans for a just transition to a low-carbon economy have won the support of a broad coalition of stakeholders. Colorado Governor Jared Polis has created a Climate Cabinet and developed one of the country’s most ambitious plans to combat climate change at the state level.
In 2019, Colorado passed a package of 14 bills supporting climate change mitigation and the energy transition. The bills include plans for mine reclamation projects and training programs for high-quality jobs and created the Advisory Committee and Just Transition Office to administer transition assistance and ensure the participation of workers.
Overview
| Colorado | USA | |
|---|---|---|
| Size (sq. km) | 269,837 | 9.15 million |
| Population per sq. km | 21 | 34 |
| GDP per capita | €52,333 | €52,303 |
| Median household income | €60,134 | €52,434 |
| Per capita income | €49,677 | €28,507 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.5% | 3.6% |
Colorado’s Renewable and Clean Energy Challenge provides $12 million (€11 million) in grants for projects that can help the state achieve its target of 100% renewable energy by 2040.
Electricity generation mix
Natural Gas %
Coal %
Renewables %
In Pueblo, a city in southwestern Colorado, the local economy was dependent on coal and steel production for much of the city‘s history. However, as the coal industry’s success began to fade, Pueblo charted a new path forward, aiming to become a low-carbon city and regional hub for renewable energy production. Support for the transition grew as a result of grassroots campaigns, local government initiatives, Xcel’s Colorado Energy Plan, and the development of the world’s largest wind tower factory in Pueblo.
Coal industry
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