Lawmakers want to eliminate all carbon emissions by 2050

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 sewage-to-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 pass legislation than they did in the 2022