Can a single Colorado agency oversee both fossil fuel and clean energy production? – Colorado Newsline
Can a single Colorado agency oversee both fossil fuel and clean ... Colorado Newsline
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Colorado Racing to Regulate Climate-Friendly Energy Industries
This story originally appeared in Capital & Main.
Introduction
Colorado is making swift efforts to establish new rules for regulating climate-friendly energy industries, such as carbon capture and geothermal projects. The state aims to be one of the first in the nation to achieve this goal. However, there is concern about using the same agency that currently regulates fossil fuel production for this dual oversight. Both oil and gas interests and climate activists worry that the agency may not be able to effectively regulate both industries.
The Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission
The newly renamed Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, supported by Colorado lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, is urged to embrace clean energy industries quickly. However, caution is advised by scientists, municipalities, and residents.
Tension and Agreement
There is a rare agreement between climate activists and the oil and gas industry regarding the regulation of energy-producing industries. Both parties agree that the state should not divert its attention from fossil fuel production and oversight. The Colorado Oil & Gas Association’s President and CEO, Dan Haley, stated that while they support the proposed change, the commission should prioritize processing oil and natural gas permits.
Concerns from Municipalities
Municipalities have their own concerns about the rapid scaling up of clean energy industries. Jacob Smith, the executive director of Colorado Communities for Climate Action, expressed concerns about the need for careful and smart implementation to protect people. He emphasized the importance of understanding the risks associated with these industries at scale and ensuring that one large-scale industry is not replaced with another.
Regulation of New Industries
The chair of the Energy and Carbon Management Commission, Jeff Robbins, acknowledges that Colorado is pioneering the regulation of different energy industries within a single agency. The state passed new laws mandating the commission to draft rules for regulating underground natural gas storage, carbon capture, and geothermal operations. These laws also highlight the importance of hydrogen and carbon capture as alternatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Role of Clean Tech Industries
Scientists argue that rapidly scaling up clean tech industries, such as geothermal, hydrogen, wind, and solar, is essential to prevent further global warming. Geothermal resources, particularly in the West, have the potential to power over 40 million homes by 2050. Colorado’s geological formations also make it suitable for carbon capture. The state aims to meet ambitious emission reduction targets and has signed laws to accelerate decarbonization in transportation and electricity systems.
Building a Regulatory Path
Legislators believe that granting regulators more authority is necessary to ensure Colorado remains competitive in attracting clean tech companies. The state aims to provide regulatory certainty to encourage companies to choose Colorado over other states. As the fourth-largest crude oil-producing state and natural gas-producing state, Colorado wants to balance fossil fuel production with renewable energy industries.
Protecting Public Health and Safety
Residents and municipalities are concerned about the slow implementation of regulatory reforms to reduce fossil fuel pollution. They argue that the commission has not prioritized public health and safety over drilling activities. The commission plans to adopt rules addressing the cumulative effects of fossil fuel operations. Conservationists emphasize the importance of protecting communities and believe that the focus should be on protection rather than permitting.
Regulatory Review and Concerns
The commission chair, Jeff Robbins, defends the agency’s efforts in reviewing permit applications and states that the level of review has increased significantly. However, concerns remain about the approval of massive development requests and the effects on local communities. Local governments want to ensure they can regulate renewable energy industries in the same manner as fossil fuel activities. There are also concerns about the disproportionate impact of industrial processes on low-income communities and neighborhoods of color.
Regulating Clean Tech Industries
The commission plans to involve local governments in discussions on regulating clean tech companies and granting them dual permitting authority. The agency has received significant interest in geothermal activities and has implemented an order to expedite the processing of test well applications. To regulate carbon capture and storage, the agency must establish regulations that protect groundwater and meet federal standards.
Conclusion
Colorado is taking significant steps to regulate climate-friendly energy industries while also addressing concerns about the regulation of fossil fuel production. The newly renamed Energy and Carbon Management Commission aims to strike a balance between promoting clean energy industries and protecting public health and safety. The state’s ambitious emission reduction targets and focus on renewable energy sources demonstrate its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by international agreements.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
The article discusses the regulation of climate-friendly energy industries, including carbon capture and geothermal projects, as well as the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition away from fossil fuels. These topics are directly related to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Additionally, the article mentions the potential for geothermal energy to power homes and the need to protect groundwater, which are connected to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
- SDG 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
- SDG 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
- SDG 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are related to increasing the share of renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, integrating climate change measures into policies and planning, raising awareness about climate change, and promoting sustainable forest management.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Percentage of renewable energy in the energy mix
- Rate of improvement in energy efficiency
- Inclusion of climate change measures in national policies and planning
- Educational programs and capacity-building initiatives on climate change
- Extent of sustainable forest management, deforestation rates, and afforestation efforts
The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators. However, the identified targets can be measured using indicators such as the percentage of renewable energy in the energy mix, the rate of improvement in energy efficiency, the extent of climate change integration in policies and planning, the implementation of educational programs on climate change, and the progress in sustainable forest management.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix | Percentage of renewable energy in the energy mix |
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency | Rate of improvement in energy efficiency |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | Inclusion of climate change measures in national policies and planning |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning | Educational programs and capacity-building initiatives on climate change |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally | Extent of sustainable forest management, deforestation rates, and afforestation efforts |
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Source: coloradonewsline.com
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