Tell the governor: Continue bold action to clean up our air
Clean Air Colorado
Ozone pollution threatens the health of many Coloradans. We have the solutions to clean up our air — we just need to use them.
Colorado enjoys a reputation for clear blue skies over “purple mountains majesty” and a healthy, outdoor lifestyle to go along with it.
But our state has more than its fair share of air quality problems. One of the biggest: ozone pollution.
What is ozone pollution and where does it come from?
The nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that form ozone come from a variety of sources such as the oil & gas sector, the cars and trucks we drive, industrial sources and even gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.
Photo by Staff | Used by permission
The worst ozone typically happens between June and August – our “ozone season.” This is the time of year when you may get an ozone alert on your phone or see one on your weather app, warning you to reduce exercise or outdoor activity.
This is because ground-level ozone can cause harmful health effects including lung damage, worsening of existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, and even cardiovascular disease. For a deeper dive on how ozone is formed and the health impacts it causes, check out our blog and interview with Dr. James Crooks, a researcher at National Jewish Health.
In recent years, the Denver Metro/North Front Range region – roughly from Castle Rock up to Fort Collins and Greeley – has suffered from some of the highest ozone pollution in the country. These high ozone levels mean the region is failing to meet the national health-based air quality standards for ozone, and in 2022, the EPA reclassified the region from “serious” to “severe” nonattainment of these standards.
How can we cut harmful ozone pollution in Colorado?
One thing is clear: to protect our health, we need to get ozone down from these unsafe levels as quickly as possible.
Our best chance for doing this is to reduce the amount of NOx and VOCs entering our air. Because so many sources contribute to the problem, we have lots of solutions at hand for addressing it.
How to unlock tax credits in Colorado
Electric vehicle tax credits and rebates in Colorado
Sorting through the many different incentives and rebates for electric vehicles can feel daunting. Here is a guide with all the info you need about rebates, tax credits and other state and federal discounts available for new and used electric vehicles in Colorado in 2024.
Tax credits and rebates on electric lawn mowers and leaf blowers
When it comes to lawn equipment, Coloradans can now enjoy a 30% discount on cleaner, quieter electric lawn and garden tools — and snowblowers — at participating retailers. Find out how to enjoy these savings, plus other financial incentives, in our lawn equipment incentive guide.
Colorado tax credits for e-bikes
In recent years, Colorado has established new tax credits and other financial incentives to make it easier to cut ozone-forming emissions and other pollution while driving — or by replacing car trips altogether by hopping on an electric bicycle (e-bike). Visit this resource to find out all about financial incentives available for purchasing an e-bike.
Legislative solutions
In 2023, we called on our legislators to build off previous legislative and regulatory successes and pass a package of policies to address ozone pollution across the board.
Specifically, we asked state leaders to take concrete action in nine areas outlined in our Ozone Agenda.
In the end, the legislature passed bills expected to make significant progress on five out of the nine action areas highlighted: shifting away from gas-powered lawn and garden equipment; accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and electric bikes (e-bikes); taking steps to increase transit ridership and reduce the need to drive, and cutting ozone pollution from buildings.
Photo by Staff | Used by permission
In 2024, CoPIRG and partners supported bills to cut ozone pollution from the oil & gas industry, the transportation sector and more. The new measures will establish a historic increase in funding for transit service, strengthen air quality enforcement by giving state agencies more tools for holding polluters accountable, increase transparency by requiring the state to publicly share information on enforcement actions, plug leaky oil & gas wells and more. Gov. Polis signed both bills into law.
Administrative action: Gov. Polis calls for 30% NOx cuts by 2025
In March 2023, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis made an announcement directing state agencies to cut ozone-forming NOx from the oil and gas sector by 30% by 2025 and 50% by 2030.
Oil and gas accounts for about 45% of NOx in the Denver Metro/North Front Range, so a 30% reduction in just this sector would mean a significant reduction of ozone-forming NOx in the region in a short period of time.
This is a bold goal at a time when we need to act quickly. CoPIRG and allies are watchdogging the proposal as it gets rolled out.
Expanding travel options so we don’t have to drive to complete every trip
State and transit agencies should continue to expand travel options including
Photo by Staff | Used by permission
building on the success of Bustang, the state’s intercity bus system, and the Zero Fare for Better Air program (which in 2023, meant free bus and train rides in both July AND August in the RTD region).
We also need to ensure the Colorado Department of Transportation stops wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on highway widening projects that fail to expand options for people getting from point A to point B.
Local governments should also expand travel choices including incentivizing e-bikes and building out safe and pleasant sidewalks and bike lanes.
Accelerating transportation electrification
Photo by Staff | Used by permission
In October 2023, our state took a big step and passed the Colorado Clean Cars rule to continue the requirements on dealerships and manufacturers to increase the number of electric vehicles in years 2027 and beyond. This new program will mean benefits for air quality as well as increased choices for consumers.
Colorado is now a leader in electric vehicles, thanks to these top 10 policies. We’ve hit the major milestone of 100,000 electric vehicles on the road in our state – now, we should set our sights on 1 million.
In order for more Coloradans to take advantage of incentives to purchase electric vehicles, we need to continue to expand charging infrastructure across our state so people have confidence they’ll be able to charge where they live, work and play.
We also need to find more ways to cut emissions from the most polluting vehicles on our roads. Targeted financial incentives could help Coloradans exchange especially high emitting gas or diesel vehicles for cleaner electric ones.
When it comes to highly polluting diesel buses, we can expand funding for the electric school bus grant program and increase technical assistance to make it easier for smaller school districts to apply for grants. More electric school buses means less exposure to diesel pollution that puts our health and communities at risk.
