Colorado Energy Summary
This page provides a summary of energy in Colorado. Here you will find an overview of energy consumption, listing of energy efficiency goals under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), a summary of the status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, and a list of political leaders and state agency administrators who shape energy policy for Colorado. You can link to the following subheadings on this page:
- Executive summary
- Economic and demographic facts that affect energy consumption
- Status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies
- State leadership
Executive Summary
Total Energy Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005 and EPAct Goal for Colorado
(million Btu)
Section 123 of EPAct requires states to set an energy conservation goal that is 25% below 1990 consumption. DOE is currently considering a per capita goal among other options.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Information Administration State Energy Price, Expenditure, and Consumption Estimates (SEDS) database. Note, that 2005 is the latest year for which state-by-state data is available.
Colorado is a top producer of oil, coal, and natural gas. Like other states in the intermountain region, Colorado is experiencing a boom in natural gas production. In January 2008, the Rockies Express Pipeline began operation to bring natural gas from the region to the Midwest.
Read a more complete energy summary for Colorado, including consumption and production statistics for fossil fuels on the DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA) Colorado Energy Profile.
| Total energy consumption per capita | 305 (million Btu) |
State rank | 37 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPAct per capita goal for 2012 | 213.3 (million Btu) |
State rank | 41 |
| Average annual increase in total energy consumption | 0.1% | State rank | 28 |
Electricity
Fuel Sources for Electric Power Generation
(trillion Btu)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
| Annual growth of electricity consumption | 3.3% | State rank | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity production from nonhydro renewable energy | 879 (million kWh) |
State rank | 29 |
Colorado has a traditional regulated market for electric power. Xcel Energy is the largest electricity and natural gas utility in the state, and 32 towns and cities operate their own electric power and natural gas distribution services. Also, 22 rural electric cooperatives provide service to about one-fourth of the state's rural population, which is spread out over large areas. Xcel Energy expanded its energy efficiency programs for its residential and business customers in 2006. In 2005, the company spent approximately $24 million, or 0.7% of utility revenues, on utility energy efficiency programs.
Electricity consumption is growing almost twice as fast as the population and 50% faster than the national average. The state is experiencing a surge in wind and power installations as a result of its renewable portfolio standard. Colorado is among the top 10 states for wind energy production and potential. Read Colorado electric power and renewable energy statistics published by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Transportation
Motor Gasoline Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005
(gallons)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
Transportation accounts for 30% of all energy consumption in Colorado, which makes it the largest energy-consuming sector of the state economy. The state is a leading consumer of alternative fuels—mostly ethanol—in the Rocky Mountain region. You can find data about the consumption of alternative fuels in Colorado from the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center.
| Motor gasoline consumption per capita | 461 (gallons) |
State rank | 36 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethanol consumption | 102,096,049 (gallons) |
State rank | 12 |
| Number of alternative fuel stations | 122 | State rank | 8 |
| Population | 4,674,000 | State rank | 22 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent urban population | 84% | State rank | 16 |
| Annual population growth rate | 1.9% | State rank | 7 |
| Per capita personal income | $37,510 | State rank | 8 |
| Gross state product | $230,478 (million) |
State rank | 20 |
Economic and Demographic Facts that Affect Energy Consumption
The following statistics for Colorado put energy consumption into perspective in the context of the state economy and the size and growth of the population.
Status of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policies
Colorado has the following state-level policies and incentives in place that support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The links give detailed explanations of the policies and incentives published online by the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency:
Building energy codes for energy efficiency
Colorado is a home rule state, so local jurisdictions set code and compliance standards. The state recommends the International Energy Conservation Code 2003 code for residential and commercial buildings.
Renewable portfolio standard for renewable energy
Colorado requires investor-owned utilities to obtain 20% of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2020, with 4% of this requirement coming from solar energy. Electric cooperatives and municipal utilities that serve more than 40,000 customers are required to obtain 10% of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2020.
State standards for public buildings for energy efficiency
Colorado state agencies are required to monitor utility bills and conserve energy; all state-owned and state-assisted new construction and major renovation projects over 5,000 square feet must be certified LEED Gold to the extent it is economically feasible.
State Leadership
Governor Bill Ritter (D) began serving as governor in 2006. Previously, he served as Denver's District Attorney for three terms.
The Colorado Legislature is composed of a senate with 35 members and a house of representatives with 65 members. The legislature is usually in regular session from January until May. The senate majority leader is Brandon Shaffer (D). The senate minority leader is Joshua "Josh" Perry (R). The speaker for the house of representatives is Terrance Carroll (D).
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission has full economic and quality-of-service regulatory authority over intrastate telecommunication services and investor owned electric, gas and water utilities, as well as partial regulatory control over municipal utilities and electric associations. The commission chairman is Ron Binz.
The Governor's Energy Office administers the DOE State Energy Program in Colorado and advises the state's executive and elected leaders about energy policy. The office director is Tom Plant. The DOE State Energy Program publishes contact information for the Colorado energy office.
