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- did you know? since 2010 Colorado's renewable electricity net generation has more than tripled, led by an increase of solar and wind and has accounted for 30% of the states total generation in 2020
- did you know? colorado is ranked 7th among U.S states total generation in 2020!!!
- did you know? CEO is primarily responsible for liquid fuels energy emergencies, including petroleum and propane, while the PUC is primarily responsible for electric and natural gas energy emergencies.

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For Energy in Colorado information, data and maps, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration Colorado State Energy Profile and Energy Estimates.

Since 2010, Colorado's renewable electricity net generation has more than tripled, led by increased wind and solar, and accounted for 30% of the state's total generation in 2020

Colorado ranked seventh among U.S. states in installed wind power capacity in 2020

Source: EIA; last updated: March 18, 2021

Energy in Colorado Resources

Propane is used for home heating, cooking water heating, drying crops and as a transportation fuel. Despite significant propane production in Colorado, the state is vulnerable to shortfalls due to a lack of pipeline and storage infrastructure. For more information about propane and how it is supplied in Colorado, visit the Colorado Propane Gas Association and U.S. Energy Information Administration Heating Oil and Propane Update.

In 2021, the Colorado Energy Office (CEO), Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) updated the state's Colorado Energy Assurance Emergency Plan. The agencies engaged with stakeholders related to potential electric, natural gas and liquid fuels emergencies including Suncor Refinery, Xcel Energy, petroleum marketers and the Colorado Propane Gas Association to inform the plan update. CEO is primarily responsible for liquid fuels energy emergencies, including petroleum and propane, while the PUC is primarily responsible for electric and natural gas energy emergencies.

In March 2020, Governor Polis issued EXECUTIVE ORDER D 2020 012 which directed CEO to work with providers, trade associations and consumers of propane to evaluate impacts related to COVID-19 and report relevant recommendations to the Governor to mitigate impacts related to COVID-19: COVID-19 IMPACTS TO PROPANE HOME HEATING AND RECOMMENDATIONS AS DIRECTED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER D 2020 012 - April 2020.

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For Energy in Colorado information, data and maps, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration Colorado State Energy Profile and Energy Estimates. Since 2010, Colorado's renewable electricity net generation has more than tripled, led by increased wind and solar, and accounted for 30% of the state's total generation in 2020 Colorado ranked seventh among U.S.

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what renewable energy does colorado use?

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what renewable energy does colorado use?

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- colorado's main renewable energy is wind and solar energy

- over the past 10 years solar and wind  power in colorado  has increased by 14.3%

- the largest utility companies are xcel energy,colorado springs utilites,black hills energy

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Renewable energy is at the forefront of a global conversation about how to produce energy while the planet's finite resources are becoming depleted. The United Nations listed "clean and renewable energy" as one of its Sustainable Development Goals-- a call to action for all nations to prioritize how energy is produced in a responsible manner. In order to see a highly-functional model of what the UN describes, look no further than the renewable energy boom that is exploding in Colorado.

With a big four policy platform of transitioning the electric grid to 100% renewable by 2040, Colorado welcomes innovation and is a proud leader in the clean energy arena. Although some would question whether the state can achieve such a lofty goal, Coloradans have seen firsthand what the pioneering spirit has done for this state over centuries of hard work and innovation. Electricity from renewable resources has already more than doubled since 2010 as it was approaching 25% in 2017. This percentage is growing exponentially and the potential for new businesses to embark on a clean energy journey with Colorado is endless.

Colorado has been the choice of over 6,000 energy businesses, and this number continues to climb as the state's highly-skilled workforce and state-based initiatives continue to grow. Not only does Colorado have a plethora of natural resources such as wind and solar power, but its existing gas and oil reserves are also some of the most bountiful in the country. Here are some reasons why Colorado is a leader in renewable energy, and why companies, and their employees, have made the Centennial State home.

Colorado's renewable energy commitment

The diverse landscape of Colorado is ripe for renewable energy. Situated just to the west of the Great Plains, you'll find arid deserts, river canyons and snowy mountaintops of the Rockies located within the 8th largest state in the US. Businesses that focus on renewable energy have a wealth of natural resources to draw from, including over 300 days of sunshine per year.

Having some of the nation's best natural resources is just the beginning. Colorado's state government has made renewable energy a priority in its legislature and business models.

Colorado was the first state in the US to pass a voter-approved renewable energy standard, which requires that all investor-owned utilities acquire 30% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. This major shift towards sustainable energy by both the legislature and the voting public shows Colorado's commitment to clean, renewable energy. In Colorado, renewable resources are not just a trendy buzzword; they are a viable path toward alternative energy that is anticipated to continue its growth.

Success stories in Colorado's sustainable energy sector

What's working well in Colorado's sustainable energy sector, which is the nation's 7th largest producer of energy? A partnership with 30 federally-funded research laboratories has resulted in 440 U.S. patents in clean energy. Businesses looking for innovation, natural resources and a forward-thinking workforce find Colorado the perfect fit for their renewable energy headquarters. Here are just two Colorado success stories that illustrate how renewable energy is at the forefront.
Woodward
Originally focusing on aerospace engineering, Woodward has created a new branch of its operations committed to wind turbines and energy storage. The company's background in engineering, combined with Colorado's wealth of skilled workers, produced the Woodward CONCYCLE converter, which aims to create the highest possible energy yield for both onshore and offshore wind turbines.

Woodward has also created a unique solution to stabilize the energy grid during peak demands with its energy storage systems, another result of the company's crossover engineering expertise that is blooming in Fort Collins, Colorado. With the addition of its renewable energy division, this 150-year-old company is poised to maintain its roots in Colorado, even while expanding to over 40 nations worldwide.
Lightning Systems
Committed to revolutionizing large fleet transportation, which still relies heavily on diesel fuel, Colorado's Lightening Systems creates zero-emissions powertrains for larger vehicles. From quiet, battery-powered vans all the way up to city buses, Lightening Systems focuses on re-purposing batteries and components in older diesel vehicles into their zero-waste electric systems.

Colorado commits to businesses and employees

Cooperation in Colorado extends beyond the employees of successful workplaces. The state has created grants and initiatives that provide incentives for businesses to begin, or re-locate, to the region. In addition to giving businesses the tools to grow, expand, and become leaders in their renewable energy fields, employees find that the work/life balance of Colorado makes it hard to imagine living anywhere else. Between an affordable cost of living, expansive outdoor activities, a vibrant culinary scene, and a world-class arts community, Colorado provides a culture that welcomes people who like to work hard and play hard.

Companies at the forefront of renewable energy and its technologies are in high demand globally, since their forward-thinking methods of sustainable energy are coveted by local, regional, and national governments. With this type of limitless possibilities, abundance of resources and collaborative environment, it's clear why renewable energy businesses are choosing Colorado.
Learn more about Colorado's Energy and Natural Resources industry

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Renewable Energy and Limitless Potential: How Colorado Sustains Businesses

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Renewable energy is at the forefront of a global conversation about how to produce energy while the planet's finite resources are becoming depleted. The United Nations listed "clean and renewable energy" as one of its Sustainable Development Goals-- a call to action for all nations to prioritize how energy is produced in a responsible manner.

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most of our renweable energy from colorado is from xcel energy and supply at least half of the energy in colorado

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The Imperial Irrigation District ( IID) is an irrigation district that serves the Imperial Valley in Southern California. Established under the State Water Code, the IID supplies roughly 500,000 acres (200,000 ha) of Imperial Valley farmland with raw Colorado River water to support irrigation. In addition to providing irrigation, IID also supplies electrical energy to the valley.

IID was formed in 1911 under the California Irrigation District Act to acquire the properties of the bankrupt California Development Company and its Mexican subsidiary. The IID was formed as a public agency, acquiring 13 mutual water companies in the valley which had developed and operated water distribution canals. The district is headquartered in Imperial, California.

Prior to 1942, irrigation water delivered to the Imperial Valley was diverted from the Colorado River near Pilot Knob through Mexico to bypass the Imperial sand dunes west of Yuma and into the IID-operated Alamo Canal (also known as the Imperial Canal). Since 1942, water has been diverted at Imperial Dam on the Colorado River through the 82-mile All-American Canal, all of which the IID operates and maintains, although the structures are owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Water from Imperial Dam serves the Yuma, Ariz. region as well as the Imperial Valley. The All-American Canal also delivers water from the dam to the Coachella turnout-a section east of Yuma that diverts water to the Coachella Valley Water District. Imperial Dam, located about 20 miles north of Yuma, contains four desilting basins which help remove silt and sediment from the river water so it can be delivered by gravity flow. The IID also remotely operates the Brock Reservoir, between El Centro and Yuma, by operating the inlet and outlet gates and regulating the amount of water diverted into the reservoir and returned to the main system.

The IID is a key partner in the Quantification Settlement Agreement -a pack of several agreements among California water districts entered into in 2003 to help California live within its entitlement of 4.4 million acre-feet of Colorado River water a year. Water conserved through conservation projects under the QSA is made available for the Southern California Coastal communities (San Diego County Water Authority, Coachella Valley Water District and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California).

In 2009 under the agreement, IID completed the 23-mile concrete lining project of the All-American Canal to recover about 66,700 acre-feet of water per year for use by the San Diego County Water Authority.

IID's Energy Department provides electric power to more than 145,000 customers in the Imperial Valley and parts of Riverside and San Diego counties. Service to residents of the Imperial Valley and Coachella valleys includes the Imperial Valley cities of El Centro, Calexico, Holtville, Brawley and Coachella Valley cities including Mecca, Thermal, La Quinta, Coachella and Indio, Bermuda Dunes, Thousand Palms, Indio Hills and Sky Valley. As the third largest public power utility in California, IID controls more than 1,100 megawatts of power derived from a diverse resource portfolio that includes its own generation, and long- and short-term power purchases.

Located in what's been referred to as the "renewable energy capital of the world", IID serves as a catalyst for renewable energy development in the Imperial Valley and is going to great lengths to enhance its energy infrastructure to be able to move renewable energy generated in the Imperial Valley to markets far and wide. The Energy Department has an aggressive transmission expansion plan and, over the next five years, intends to invest $1 billion in its energy infrastructure, which includes building a state-of-the-art energy battery storage unit in El Centro, which would provide back-up energy resources but also help the IID grid integrate the many megawatts of solar energy entering the IID grid during the day.

Under the nation's largest ag-to-urban water conservation transfer agreement (called the Quantification Settlement Agreement, a series of pacts between California water districts to help California live within its 4.4 million acre-foot entitlement right of Colorado River water), since 2003 water has been, and continues to be, released to the Salton Sea to mitigate negative environmental impacts. But the agreement calls for this for the first 15 years of the water transfer. (Water conserved on Imperial Valley farms and in the IID water delivery system is provided to Southern California coastal communities-specifically the San Diego County Water Authority, the Coachella Valley Water District and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California). This flow of mitigation water to the sea will end on Dec. 31, 2017. To date, the State of California has not lived up to its obligation to develop a restoration plan for the sea.

Because a declining Salton Sea poses a serious public health crisis to the residents living in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys (as dried shoreline soil and sediments, saturated with agricultural chemicals, will be spread by dust emissions from strong winds), IID has petitioned California State Water Resources Control Board asking that this governing board initiate negotiations between the QSA parties and the state to develop a plan to restore the sea, meeting the state's obligation.

Pacific Institute, an Oakland-based environmental think tank, had issued a report stating that the lack of replenishment water to the sea was leading to a "period of very rapid deterioration." With the increased shrinkage, they predicted that dust storms would increase and a rotten-egg smell could reach to the coastal cities.

On Sept. 8, 2011, an estimated 5 million people suffered a temporary loss of electricity from Arizona to San Diego and into parts of Mexico. All utilities involved in providing energy to the affected areas were investigated by NERC and FERC. While not admitting any wrongdoing, in 2014 IID agreed to a $12 million settlement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, bringing to a close the federal probe into the events surrounding the outage. Most of the money IID had been fined ($9 million) will be directly invested into the IID electric system to strengthen and enhance its system.

The district has committed to a number of physical improvements that will result in a stronger system and, in combination with the Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan, which is under consideration by the California Energy Commission, will provide greater export of renewable energy capability to the larger western grid.[citation needed ]

IID is led by an elected five-member board of directors who represent divisions in the water service area.

IID is advised by the public through citizen cooperation on the Water Conservation Advisory Board and the Energy Consumers Advisory Board. ECAC consists of representatives of both the Imperial and Coachella valley served by the Energy Department.

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Imperial Irrigation District - Wikipedia

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The Imperial Irrigation District ( IID) is an irrigation district that serves the Imperial Valley in Southern California. Established under the State Water Code, the IID supplies roughly 500,000 acres (200,000 ha) of Imperial Valley farmland with raw Colorado River water to support irrigation.

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Colorado has been ranked 13th nationally in all of united states as one of the most sustainable states in the USA over 438,842 homes are power by renewable energy

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Colorados has had a huge decrease in coal and gas emmisons

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since Colorado has turned to this healthy green lifestyle Co2 emissions in the state of Colorado have decreased a tremendous amount 4.6 perecent of emissions

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Colorado renewable energy company set to expand after 1 Billion dollar sale 

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Colorado renewable energy company set to expand after 1 Billion dollar sale 

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a boulder based renewbale energy company is set to sell there 1 billion dollar company to a another neighboring brand to expand and make more wind energy for the state of colorado

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Denver Renewable Energy News - Denver Business Journal

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The Denver Business Journal features local business news about Denver. We also provide tools to help businesses grow, network and hire.

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Make the change to renewable energy Colorado!

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Make the change to renewable energy Colorado!

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renewable energy can help solve climate change and climate health for our planet one step at a time and help reduce Co2 emissions for our planet and solve the crisis of climate change one solar panel at at a time so i highly recommend converting to solar energy cause in future years Colorado can be the number 1 best state for climate health!!! :)

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leading the new wave of renewable energy one step at a time

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leading the new wave of renewable energy one step at a time

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Xcel energy has been one of the number one companies of supplying and making renewable energy accessible for the public and have been making a fast move into increasing the use of solar and wind power in colorado. for example in 2021 Xcel energy fuel was 33% wind 32% coal and 29% natural gas and 5% solar and xcel expects to be more than 80% renewable by 2030

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Robert Kenney took over as president of Xcel Energy-Colorado while the utility was seeking approval from state regulators for rate increases, a new clean-energy plan and a proposal to cut emissions from its natural gas system.

"It has been a very jam-packed four months, both personally and professionally," Kenney said during an interview in his office in Xcel Energy's building in downtown Denver.

"There's a lot to absorb. I knew that coming into it, but it's been a good four months," added Kenney, who started on the job June 6.

Kenney figures his time at the Pacific Gas and Electric Co., where he led the utility's regulatory strategy and execution, helped prepare him for "just about anything." Before joining PG&E, he was chairman of the Missouri Public Service Commission, where he led a 190-person agency.

At Xcel Energy, Kenney will lead the company through its ongoing transition from power generation dominated by coal and other fossil fuels to the use of more renewable energy sources and the push for greater energy efficiency. He succeeds Alice Jackson, who moved into the new position of Xcel senior vice president overseeing system strategy and planning.

Kenney said California, where he previously worked, and Colorado are both leaders in driving the clean-energy transition and setting bold targets for addressing climate change.

Xcel Energy, Colorado's largest electric utility, is based in Minneapolis and serves eight states. In 2018, the company announced plans to deliver carbon-free electricity by 2050. In 2021, Xcel Energy-Colorado pledged to slash its greenhouse-gas emissions 85% by 2030.

Xcel and other utilities in Colorado are striving to meet their own goals and keep in line with those set by state lawmakers. The Colorado General Assembly's plan is to cut heat-trapping emissions statewide 26% by 2025; 50% by 2030; and 90% by 2050, compared to a 2005 baseline.

In 2021, Xcel Energy-Colorado's fuel mix was 33% wind; 32% coal; 29% natural gas; and 5% solar. Xcel expects to be at more than 80% renewables by 2030.

"These are very aggressive outcomes that we expect to achieve," Kenney said. "One of the areas I want to make sure we're focusing on is that we're doing it in a way that doesn't leave any of our communities behind and doing it in ways that are affordable."

Energy transition

To help meet the targets for renewable energy and emissions reductions, Xcel is phasing out its coal-fired power plants. The last one scheduled to be online is the third unit at the Comanche Generating Station in Pueblo. Comanche 3's retirement date is no later than Jan. 1, 2031.

Critics of coal in general and Comanche 3 in particular said in recent Colorado Public Utilities Commission hearings that the plants should be shut down sooner. Comanche 3 has had chronic problems since its start in 2010. It was out of commission for all but a few days in 2020 and several months earlier this year.

Xcel Energy customers will help pay off the coal plants set to be shuttered earlier than planned.

Speakers in recent hearings criticized the company's proposed investments in natural gas. They said as with the coal plants, customers will be paying for gas plants and pipelines long after they're needed. They said instead, the move to renewable energy should be speeded up.

"We've got a billion dollars worth of coal plants that are stranded and now Xcel is trying to do the same thing on their gas system," Leslie Glustrom, a Boulder resident with the nonprofit Clean Energy Action, said in a September hearing.

Critics contend that as more people install solar to take advantage of declining costs, customers who remain on Xcel's system will end up paying a bigger share of the overall expense.

"Those who can least afford it, especially the disproportionately affected communities, will be stuck paying the bills instead of the business and affluent customers who can get off the grid," said Bill Levis, a former director of what is now the Colorado Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate.

Kenney acknowledged that Xcel Energy's investments in natural gas were a big topic of conversation in recent hearings before the PUC. "I think that's an important conversation for us to be having and the commission has a variety of different proceedings in which we will have that conversation."

However, Kenney sees natural gas remaining part of Xcel's system for the foreseeable future.

"Even as we bring more renewables onto the system, and we will continue to do that, we do need 24/7 dispatchable resources," Kenney added. "I think the important thing to remember is that our climate here in Colorado is such that we have real winters and natural gas is an efficient heating fuel."

The company is focused on reducing methane emissions across its system, Kenney said. Methane, the main component of natural gas, is a more potent greenhouse gas in the short term than carbon dioxide.

Xcel Energy is buying gas from companies that use a third party to monitor emissions during production.

Xcel Energy gas bills rose Oct. 1 because of the higher costs it's paying for the fuel. At the time, the company said wholesale natural gas prices hit a 15-year high.

To blunt the continuing increases, the company buys gas early and stores it so it doesn't have to pay higher prices on the spot market, Kenney said. Xcel is also signing longer-term contracts as a hedge against volatility in the market.

A deep freeze in February 2020 that stretched from Texas to the Midwest drove up natural gas prices as utilities rushed to bulk up supplies. Xcel Energy got approval to add a temporary rider to customers' bills to recoup about $500 million in storm-related expenses.

Pathway to the future

Earlier this year, the PUC started discussions with utilities as well as water and climate experts about the challenges of keeping the lights and power on in the face of increasingly extreme weather. There was speculation at the start of the summer whether utilities, especially in the drought-stricken West, would have to resort to rolling power outages if soaring temperatures strained the system.

Planned outages didn't occur because people were prepared, Kenney said.

"And I expect that we will be prepared again," he said. "We'll make sure, first of all, that we have adequate resources, either through our own plants or through purchased resources."

Xcel Energy will also schedule maintenance before high temperatures set in. Kenney said the company will communicate with customers so they can conserve energy when demand starts surging.

The utility has taken steps to prepare for the longer term as well. The PUC has approved the plan for most of Colorado's Power Pathway, a transmission project that will cost up to $2 billion and consist of up to 650 miles of high-voltage lines. The project is seen as critical to delivering more renewable energy and improving the electric grid's resilience.

"It is really going to be a game-changing infrastructure project. I think the process we were able to go through is a testament to how quickly we can get projects approved and moving along here in Colorado," Kenney said.

The approval process took about 18 months. Xcel Energy will have to get approval for permits from local governments, most of them on the Eastern Plains.

A beefed-up electric grid will help power the new electric vehicles Xcel Energy and the state of Colorado hope to see on the roads. Xcel's goal is to be able to accommodate 1.5 million electric vehicles across its eight-state territory. Gov. Jared Polis wants to see about 940,000 of the vehicles on Colorado roads by 2030.

"We're well positioned to build the infrastructure that will enable that to happen," Kenney said.

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Xcel Energy-Colorado positioned to lead clean-energy transition, new president says

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Robert Kenney took over as president of Xcel Energy-Colorado as the utility was seeking approval from state regulators for rate increases, a new clean-energy plan and a proposal to cut emissions from its natural gas system. Kenney, who succeeded Alice Jackson, said it's been a "jam-packed four months"

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University of Boulders renewable research 

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University of Boulders renewable research 

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RASEI is a program at cu boulder that focuses primarily on renewable energy and to create solutions for a better and sustainable life for the state of Colorado and the united states and some of thier goals to achieve have been to transform energy by advancing renewable energy sciences.

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Renewable & Sustainable Energy Institute

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RASEI Spotlight

Elucidating how photoexcited semiconductor nanocrystals drive multi-electron redox catalysis Gordana Dukovic University of Colorado Boulder,... Read more

The Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility are hosting a panel as part of the... Read more

One is the Loneliest Number: Multivalent and Multielectron Processes for Next-Generation Batteries Kimberly A. See... Read more

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Renewable & Sustainable Energy Institute

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Skip to Content RASEI Spotlight Elucidating how photoexcited semiconductor nanocrystals drive multi-electron redox catalysis Gordana Dukovic University of Colorado Boulder,... Read more The Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility are hosting a panel as part of the... Read more One is the Loneliest Number: Multivalent and Multielectron Processes for Next-Generation Batteries Kimberly A.