Boulder achieves 24% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2018

In the United States, the city of Boulder has reported significant progress toward its climate goals. A recent inventory showcases that Boulder's community-wide greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 24% from 2018 levels, demonstrating the city's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2035. This substantial reduction is largely attributed to improvements in building electricity usage, which involved transitioning to cleaner energy sources and moving away from fossil fuels. As part of its plan to further lower emissions by 70% by 2030, Boulder is focused on reducing emissions by at least 7% annually over the next five years. The Climate Initiatives Department has laid out plans to make energy efficiency upgrades more affordable and accessible. This includes exploring the use of low-carbon building materials as well as enhancing the workforce to support heating, ventilation, and air conditioning installations. Additionally, Boulder has partnered with Xcel Energy to ensure a transition toward 100% emissions-free electricity. This partnership aims to enhance local solar energy access, enabling the community to engage in sustainable practices. Highlighting the collective support for these initiatives, it is evident that residents are aligned with the city's climate policies, leading to collaborative efforts in reducing greenhouse gases. Furthermore, the state of Colorado has introduced a bill focused on reducing the reliance on natural gas, exploring alternatives such as geothermal energy. Despite geothermal energy accounting for less than 1% of electricity in the U.S., the bill seeks to progressively shift towards renewable sources. Colorado’s efforts have been bolstered by Governor Jared Polis' recent announcement regarding plans to expand transportation options statewide, which includes constructing additional housing near available train and bus lines.