Lawmakers want to eliminate all carbon emissions by 2050

Tax incentives on table

BY MICHAEL BOOTH AND JESSE PAUL COLORADO SUN

One of the boldest climate change and air pollution bills set for debate in the legislature this year would attempt to eliminate all of Colorado’s carbon emissions by 2050, set tough interim goals for greenhouse gas reduction, and try again for a 30% tax credit for clean electric lawn and garden equipment.

Denver Democratic Sen. Chris Hansen is sponsoring Senate Bill 16, which would also direct the state pension fund to use its shareholder rights to push climate change measures, o cially classify sewageto-heat exchanges as clean energy sources and speed up improvement of transmission lines to boost renewable energy production.

It’s unclear how much support Hansen’s bill will receive from the Polis administration, which at times has been reluctant to add new air pollution provisions a ecting private business beyond those under consideration by the Air Quality Control Commission. “ e governor will review bills as they move through the process,” Polis spokesman Conor Cahill said.

e governor has veto power over bills his administration does not like, but the veto is rarely used. Power dynamics at the Capitol will be tested, with relatively liberal Democrats holding even larger majorities to bling down on climate goals they say most Coloradans already support.

“It’s a really important bill,” said Heidi Leathwood, climate policy analyst for 350 Colorado.

Directives to the Public Employees Retirement Association “start the conversation on the state not sinking more of people’s retirement money into fossil fuel projects — invest- recommendations.

With state o cials acknowledging in late 2022 they were not on schedule to meet 2025 greenhouse gas reductions of 26%, delineating new intermediate targets before 2050 is “the best way to ensure we get there,” she said.

“We’re falling behind when it comes to meeting our current goals.

We need more investment,” Hansen said. e federal In ation Reduction Act puts real money behind changes spectrum,” he said. “So I think we really need state policy that’s going to accelerate and take advantage of that federal action.”

Hansen is one of dozens of candidates who have declared themselves for Denver’s spring mayoral race.

Lynn Granger, Midwest and