Environment Colorado Research and Policy Center
Click here for a link to the full report.
Denver, CO – As temperatures warm up and the next season of wildfires draws near, Colorado is proving that we can win the fight against global warming. Clean energy policies, such as Colorado’s Renewable Energy Standard, are significantly cutting emissions of carbon pollution – the leading cause of global warming – according to a new report by Environment Colorado Research & Policy Center. The report, Moving America Forward, showed that Colorado’s Renewable Energy Standard saved 3.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere in 2012. That is comparable to the annual emissions from over 750,000 cars.
“By using energy more efficiently, and by generating more power from clean, renewable sources, we are delivering a one-two punch in the fight against global warming,” said Kim Stevens, Campaign Director with Environment Colorado. “We’ve proven that we have what it takes to protect our children and future generations from the worst impacts of climate change. We will need firm limits on carbon pollution in order to deliver a knockout blow.”
Here in Denver, Colorado’s Renewable Energy Standard of 30% by 2020 has helped area churches find the means to install solar panels on their roofs. Churches, such as Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Capitol Hill, have been able to go solar in recent years as a result of policies initiated by the renewable energy standard.
“Having high standards set for our energy providers creates financial incentives for investors to partner with churches, install panels, and reap the financial benefits that these high standards create,” explained Reverend Larry Grimm of Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church, who has helped a number of churches in the Denver area finance and install solar panels. “Requiring energy providers to meet high percentages of renewables and offering the rebate incentives enable faith-based organizations to be better stewards of their energy use.”
Pastor Paul Carlson, a pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, added that “faith communities such as Our Savior’s Lutheran Church are helping lead the way towards clean energy in our region. Religious communities in particular have a responsibility, based on their own teachings about the care of creation, to show the feasibility of solar and other renewable power sources. It is reasonable now for churches to move in this direction, given the third party financing that is available.”
This is just one example of the types of projects Colorado’s clean energy policies have sparked. The carbon pollution reductions of these projects are critical since scientists say extreme weather events like the flooding along the Front Range last September foreshadow what could be the new normal of weather extremes. Coal- and gas-fired power plants are America’s largest source of the carbon pollution fueling global warming.
Key findings from the report include:
- Renewable electricity standards have helped Colorado develop enough renewable energy to offset as much carbon pollution as taking 429,167 cars off the road annually.
- Energy efficiency policies have helped avoid as much carbon pollution as 212,500 cars produce in a year.
- Limits on carbon pollution from power plants would build on Colorado’s success in using wind, solar, and energy efficiency to reduce carbon pollution.
Kim Stevens of Environment Colorado pointed to the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to move forward with limits on carbon pollution from power plants as the next step to fight global warming and shift to clean energy. Right now EPA limits arsenic, lead, soot and other pollution from power plants – but not carbon pollution. Power plants are America’s largest source of the carbon pollution fueling global warming, accounting for about 40 percent of total emissions.
“With enough willpower, Colorado can rise to any challenge. We’ve seen that climate solutions work – now it’s time for the next round,” Stevens concluded. “Senators Udall and Bennet should continue to stand up in support of the EPA’s plan to limit carbon pollution from power plants.”
Environment Colorado is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization working to protect our air, water and open spaces
Colorado Mazingira Utafiti na Sera Kituo Bonyeza hapa kwa kiungo cha ripoti kamili. Denver, CO <unk> Kama joto joto na msimu ujao wa moto wa misitu inakaribia, Colorado ni kuthibitisha kwamba tunaweza kushinda mapigano dhidi ya ongezeko la joto duniani. "Sera za nishati safi, kama vile kiwango cha nishati mbadala cha Colorado, zinapunguza kwa kiasi kikubwa uzalishaji wa uchafuzi wa kaboni, ""sababishi kuu la ongezeko la joto duniani,"" kulingana na ripoti mpya ya Kituo cha Utafiti na Sera ya Mazingira cha Colorado." Ripoti hiyo, Moving America Forward, ilionyesha kwamba kiwango cha nishati mbadala cha Colorado kiliokoa tani milioni 3.7 za kaboni dioksidi kutoka kuingia angahewa mnamo 2012. Hii ni sawa na uzalishaji wa kila mwaka wa magari zaidi ya 750,000. "Kwa kutumia nishati kwa ufanisi zaidi, na kwa kuzalisha nguvu zaidi kutoka kwa vyanzo safi, vinavyoweza kubadilishwa, tunatoa pigo moja-mbili katika mapambano dhidi ya ongezeko la joto la dunia", alisema Kim Stevens, Mkurugenzi wa Kampeni na Mazingira Colorado. "Tumeonyesha kwamba tuna kile kinachohitajika kulinda watoto wetu na vizazi vijavyo kutokana na athari mbaya zaidi za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. """ "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""Katika Denver, Colorado, kiwango cha nishati mbadala cha 30% ifikapo mwaka 2020 kimesaidia makanisa ya eneo hilo kupata njia za kufunga paneli za jua kwenye paa zao.""" Makanisa kama vile Kanisa la Lutheran la Mkombozi wetu huko Capitol Hill yameweza kwenda jua katika miaka ya hivi karibuni kama matokeo ya sera zilizoanzishwa na kiwango cha nishati mbadala. "Kuwa na viwango vya juu kwa watoaji wetu wa nishati huunda motisha za kifedha kwa wawekezaji kushirikiana na makanisa, kufunga paneli, na kuvuna faida za kifedha ambazo viwango hivi vya juu huunda, ""alieleza Mchungaji Larry Grimm wa Kanisa la Presbyterian la Capitol Heights, ambaye amesaidia makanisa kadhaa katika eneo la Denver kufadhili na kufunga paneli za jua." "Kuhitaji watoaji wa nishati kukidhi asilimia kubwa ya nishati mbadala na kutoa motisha za punguzo huwezesha mashirika ya imani kuwa wasimamizi bora wa matumizi yao ya nishati. ""Pastor Paul Carlson, mchungaji katika Kanisa la Lutheran la Mkombozi wetu, aliongeza kwamba ""jamii za imani kama Kanisa la Lutheran la Mkombozi wetu zinasaidia kuongoza njia kuelekea nishati safi katika mkoa wetu." Jamii za kidini hasa zina jukumu, kulingana na mafundisho yao wenyewe kuhusu utunzaji wa uumbaji, kuonyesha uwezekano wa nishati ya jua na vyanzo vingine vya nishati mbadala. Ni jambo la busara sasa kwa makanisa kusonga katika mwelekeo huu, kwa kuzingatia ufadhili wa mtu wa tatu unaopatikana. <unk> Hii ni mfano mmoja tu wa aina za miradi ambayo sera za nishati safi za Colorado zimesababisha. "Upunguzaji wa uchafuzi wa kaboni wa miradi hii ni muhimu kwani wanasayansi wanasema matukio ya hali ya hewa kali kama mafuriko kando ya Front Range Septemba iliyopita yanaonyesha kile kinachoweza kuwa kawaida mpya ya hali ya hewa kali. """ Vituo vya umeme vinavyoendeshwa kwa makaa ya mawe na gesi ni chanzo kikubwa zaidi cha Amerika cha uchafuzi wa kaboni unaosababisha ongezeko la joto duniani. "Makadirio ya ""mfumo wa umeme unaobadilika"" yameisaidia Colorado kuendeleza nishati ya kutosha ya mbadala ili kulipa kodi ya uchafuzi wa kaboni kama kuchukua magari 429,167 kutoka barabara kila mwaka." Mipango ya ufanisi wa nishati imesaidia kuepuka uchafuzi wa kaboni kama magari 212,500 yanayotengenezwa kwa mwaka. - Mipaka ya uchafuzi wa kaboni kutoka mitambo ya umeme ingejengwa juu ya mafanikio ya Colorado katika kutumia upepo, jua, na ufanisi wa nishati kupunguza uchafuzi wa kaboni. Kim Stevens wa mazingira Colorado alionyesha mpango wa Shirika la Ulinzi wa Mazingira kuendelea na mipaka ya uchafuzi wa kaboni kutoka kwa mitambo ya umeme kama hatua inayofuata kupambana na ongezeko la joto la dunia na kugeuka kwa nishati safi. Hivi sasa EPA inapunguza arseniki, risasi, chokaa na uchafuzi mwingine kutoka kwa mitambo ya umeme <unk> lakini sio uchafuzi wa kaboni. Vituo vya umeme ni chanzo kikubwa cha uchafuzi wa kaboni nchini Marekani, na vinawakilisha asilimia 40 ya uzalishaji wote. <unk>Kwa nguvu ya kutosha ya mapenzi, Colorado inaweza kukabiliana na changamoto yoyote. Tumeona kwamba suluhisho za hali ya hewa zinafanya kazi - sasa ni wakati wa raundi inayofuata, "Stevens alimaliza. "Seneta Udall na Bennet wanapaswa kuendelea kusimama kwa msaada wa mpango wa EPA wa kupunguza uchafuzi wa kaboni kutoka kwa mitambo ya umeme. ""Mazingira Colorado ni shirika la utetezi wa mazingira la serikali nzima, lenye msingi wa raia linalofanya kazi kulinda hewa yetu, maji na nafasi za wazi."