Colorado Laws Mandate Change in Energy Production

In 2021, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law a suite of bills related to greenhouse gas emissions and energy production. The bills address streamlining solar energy permitting, encouraging other types of heating and cooling, renewable energy workforce careers, and more. This new suite of laws to encourage alternative energy production is not a new concept for Colorado and its residents. In fact, Colorado was the first state to enact a renewable energy standard (RES) in 2004. The energy standard required utilities to transmit specific percentages of energy from renewable sources.

Some Colorado Landscapes Are Ideal for Solar Energy Production

An article in Forbes about solar energy stated, "...the state of Colorado is one of the best states for solar energy." Colorado's elevation, weather, and broad expanses of flat land make it an ideal area for solar energy generation. In addition to those features, portions of Colorado's landscape are unsuitable for crop production...

Colorado:

New Pollution Rules for Manufacturers Raise Questions and Eyebrows

Anyone reading the Denver Post article titled, “State weighs new pollution rules for manufacturers” has to wonder why certain businesses have become targets of environmentalists and the policy makers they sway, and others have not. This is all about the 2021 law titled the Environmental Justice Act (HB 21-1266) which mandates a requirement for greenhouse gas reduction from companies that are in disproportionately impacted communities. At this point it appears that the rulemaking process has already commenced and there will be a hearing starting Wednesday at 4:35, then on Thursday 21st, and Friday the 22nd.

Washington DC Environmental Group Is Meddling in Colorado

It is not surprising that a Washington DC group called Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has weighed in and the panel advising the Department of Public Health and Environment, called the Climate Equity Community Advisory Council, is vying for their recommendations to be...

Founded in 2014, the Snake River Waterkeeper group has been busy in Idaho. The group’s website touts a variety of activities, from dam removal demonstrations, joining numerous lawsuits over the definition of “Waters of the United States,” to suing the EPA and filing a lawsuit to appeal Idaho’s newly promulgated General CAFO Permit Rule to the 9th Circuit.

Most Recent Target – Simplot

In May of this year, Snake River Waterkeeper filed a Clean Water Act lawsuit against Simplot Livestock, alleging that Simplot was discharging manure illegally. According to an article in Progressive Farmer, in response, Simplot Livestock filed a motion for dismissal on the grounds that the lawsuit could not provide any specifics for which they are making their claims.

On September 6th, the court ordered to stay discovery until it issues a decision on the pending motion to dismiss. The court took this action for various reasons, but most importantly, because proper notice to Simplot was not given. Snake River Waterkeeper could not and did not provide specific facts...

The Urban Dictionary defines a “shakedown” as:

“Another word for extortion/blackmail, or the obtaining of a good or service through means of force, threats/intimidation, or abuse of power."

Colorado’s Energy Performance for Buildings Statute

Colorado House Bill 21-1286, the Energy Performance for Buildings Statute, was established with the goal of helping building owners increase energy efficiency, lower energy costs, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

This sounds like a great idea until implementation commences, and government agencies enter the picture.

Agriculture is Supposed to Be Exempt

The Colorado Energy Office is mandated to address the “Energy Performance for Buildings” statute. It requires buildings over 50,000 square feet to comply with new energy standards by 2030. According to the law, agricultural buildings are exempt.

It clearly states:

“(II) "COVERED BUILDING" DOES NOT INCLUDE:

(B) A BUILDING IN WHICH MORE THAN HALF OF THE GROSS FLOOR AREA IS USED FOR...

As the Farm Bill gets close to expiring, an important piece of legislation meant to protect animal agriculture producers, titled Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act (EATS), has become a hot topic.

On August 21st, Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon submitted a letter to the House Committee on Agriculture opposing the EATS Act. This letter is reported to have gained 171 signatures. Of those signatures, four Colorado Congress members have signed, including some “agriculture” groups based in Washington D.C. that have no practical experience in actual agriculture production geared towards feeding hundreds of millions of people.

The EATS Act - A Response to Proposition 12 in California and Similar Legislation in Other States

The EATS Act was initially sponsored by U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and cosponsored by Senators Charles Grassley, Cindy Hyde-Smith, John Cornyn, and Joni Ernst. The EATS Act aimed to combat anti-animal agriculture legislation penned by animal rights groups. The EATS Act would...

On July 18, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) submitted new proposed modifications to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements. At this time, Region 10 of the EPA has tentatively determined to make the proposed modifications.

The comment period to respond and give feedback was open until September 1, 2023.

Now, we wait for the findings and the final rule.

Here’s What You Need to Know

The EPA’s proposed modifications involve the establishment of monitoring conditions for the following discharges involving “waters of the United States”:

• Subsurface discharges of pollutants from production areas
• Dry weather surface and subsurface discharges from land application areas

Details

Listed below are highlights of the new regulations. The following actions must be taken if runoff or discharge from land application area impacts “Waters of the United States”:

Monitoring the following discharges, which will be sampled and...

Car∙bon se∙ques∙tra∙tion / noun / a natural or artificial process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in solid or liquid form.

It is estimated that 80% of the world’s carbon is found in the soil and it has potential to store more[1]. Hence, why the new federal administration is looking toward agriculture to help. Carbon is initially transferred to the soil through photosynthesis of plants. Carbon that is not used by the plant is transferred to the soil through the root system. Carbon then feeds the soil organisms and becomes stable. It gives the soil structure, as it is the main component of organic matter, which also increases water retention capacity. Some carbon is maintained in the topsoil and can be released back into the atmosphere, while other carbon is more stable and can stay in the soil for thousands of years....

Finding agricultural properties in Greeley, Colorado

Solar Energy - What if you could harvest the sun?