Climate Change Solutions Update

Tag: Colorado

  • Colorado Legislature sends ‘advanced transmission technology’ bill to governor

    Colorado lawmakers recently passed legislation requiring regulated utilities to consider advanced transmission technologies to improve grid efficiency, with a focus on increasing the state's ability to import/export electricity, speeding up new generation/load hookup, and reducing wildfire risk. The bill mandates utilities to include analysis of these technologies in their 10-year transmission plans, as research shows they can save customers money and free up capacity. Similar requirements are being implemented in other states like Virginia to enhance their grids. The organization released a report on October 24, likely discussing climate-related issues.

    https://www.utilitydive.com/news/colorado-advanced-transmission-technology-gets-bill/817545/

  • Increased spacing between solar module rows boosts agrivoltaics viability

    U.S. researchers from Colorado University, National Laboratory of the Rockies, Colorado State University, and the Colorado Department of Agriculture have developed a framework showing that wider spacing between solar PV rows can make agrivoltaic systems economically viable for large-scale mechanized farming. Their simulations in Colorado demonstrated that optimized row spacing maintains crop production while improving combined agricultural and energy revenues. The study found that wider-row agrivoltaic solutions can provide economic benefits over traditional utility-scale PV systems, with $200/acre in agricultural profit justifying spacing panels at least 9.662 m apart. The framework defines different PV row-spacing scenarios, determines installed PV capacity, incorporates agricultural equipment constraints, calculates crop revenues, estimates electricity generation and revenue, and calculates metrics such as net present value and levelized cost of energy. The team simulated a 160-acre project in Colorado with different crop scenarios and PPA prices, highlighting the sensitivity of results to equipment size.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/03/13/increased-spacing-between-solar-module-rows-boosts-agrivoltaics-viability/

  • On Heat Pumps, Colorado Hits The Ground Running

    Colorado is launching a rebate program offering up to $14,000 for energy efficiency upgrades, including heat pumps, to accelerate the transition to clean, all-electric systems and reduce carbon emissions. Zero Home is expanding statewide in Colorado, focusing on cold-climate heat pumps covered by the new rebate program, with up to $8,000 in rebates available. Heat pump sales have increased significantly in recent years, surpassing gas furnaces, with a new wave of cold-climate technology entering the market. Biden-era initiatives are supporting the development of commercial-scale heat pumps, heat pump clothes dryers, and water heaters, contributing to energy efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/01/03/on-heat-pumps-colorado-hits-the-ground-running/

  • A 15-Ton Rooftop Heat Pump Is Coming For Your Fossil Fuels

    Electric heat pumps are becoming a key player in the home electrification movement and are now scaling up to decarbonize commercial buildings. Carrier Global Corporation is leading the way in demonstrating the potential of heat pumps in the US, with a new 15-ton rooftop heat pump for commercial use in development. The Energy Department's programs are accelerating the development of next-generation heat pumps for both residential and commercial markets, with a focus on high efficiency and reducing energy costs. Innovations like the Boiler 2.0 industrial heat pump from AtmosZero are highlighting the growing trend towards sustainable energy solutions, aiming to decarbonize industries with high-efficiency electrified steam generators. Commercial-scale heat pumps, like those used at the Belgium Brewing facility in Fort Collins, Colorado, are set to be available in the US market within the next two years, with a goal of delivering zero-emission steam at a cost comparable to fossil-fueled boilers.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/12/27/a-15-ton-rooftop-heat-pump-is-coming-for-your-fossil-fuels/

  • Colorado outlines how clean energy could benefit coal communities

    A new report from Colorado's Energy Office highlights the potential for emerging clean energy technologies to benefit rural communities as the state transitions away from coal. Investments in technologies such as carbon capture, geothermal energy, and hydrogen power could help replace lost economic activity. Wind and solar paired with storage are cost-effective and grid-ready options, while hydrogen and carbon capture projects have the potential to create jobs and generate tax revenue. The report aims to guide rural areas in Colorado and beyond on how they can contribute to the clean energy transition.

    https://www.eenews.net/articles/colorado-outlines-how-clean-energy-could-benefit-coal-communities/