Colorado Moves to Enforce Major Utility Emissions Cuts Despite Cost Concerns

By: Shannon Ogden | Denver7

DENVER — Environmental groups are celebrating a win in Colorado after the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) agreed to tougher standards on greenhouse gas emissions from Colorado utilities like Xcel Energy.

At a meeting Wednesday, commissioners decided to require utilities to reduce these pollutants by 41% by 2035.

Sierra Club Colorado was one of the groups arguing for these higher reductions.

“I think we should feel proud that we pushed them on this. I think we’re really happy with the 41% because it keeps us moving,” said Sarah Tresseder, energy organizer of Sierra Club Colorado.

 In 2021, Colorado passed the first-in-the-nation “Clean Heat Law” requiring gas utilities to create plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The first target was 4% by 2025, then 22% by 2030. Wednesday’s meeting was to decide on 2025 requirements

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT DENVER7