News

The North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO) recently included an article in their quarterly newsletter on the 2020 ozone season, written by RAQC staff. Read the article on page 3 here.

The RAQC is pleased to announce its first round of Clean Air Champions:

City of Fort Collins: The City of Fort Collins has been an active advocate for air quality for more than 25 years through supporting community based efforts to improve air quality as well as being a leader in reducing air emissions throughout their own operations. Recently the city has been focused on electrification efforts – including the electrification of commercial grade lawn and garden equipment used by the city’s parks department and continuing efforts to electrify the municipal fleet.

Regional Transportation District: RTD has been an active partner in improving air quality since its inception through its purpose to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips and its leadership in electrifying its fleets.

The RAQC is pleased to highlight these members of our community who have demonstrated this continuous commitment to improving air quality in the Denver Metro/North Front Range region. Additional information on the awardees and their current projects are available on the Clean Air Champion program page.

The next application round will open in Spring 2021, with awardees to be recognized in Summer 2021.

In an effort to keep interested stakeholders informed of current happenings with RAQC programs, partners, and air quality news and events, the RAQC created The Air Monitor quarterly e-newsletter. You can read the most current issue here. If you are interested in subscribing to the newsletter, sign up here or contact Sara Goodwin.

To improve air quality throughout the state of Colorado, today the RAQC reopened its ALT Fuels Colorado application round to continue incentivizing the replacement and scrappage of pre-2009 vehicles with fully Electric and Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) fleet vehicles. These funds are available to all public, private, and non-profit fleets statewide within Colorado. Go to the program website for more information and to apply.

The RAQC has developed two new documents that provide information and timelines about the two federal ozone standards affecting our region, Employer-based Trip Reduction Programs and how they are one of many strategies that can reduce emissions, improve air quality and help our region attain those standards. See below for both documents.

Questions & Answers: Benefits of Employer-based Trip Reduction Programs in Our Region 

Timeline & Processes: 2008 Ozone Standard, Potential Severe Reclassification and State-Only Flexible ETRP

The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) and Colorado Energy Office (CEO) have opened the Charge Ahead Colorado application for electric vehicle (EV) and charging station funding. At this time, the RAQC has funding for both charging stations and EVs for applicants within the Denver Metro Area. CEO has funding for charging stations for applicants outside the Denver Metro Area. All charging stations are required to be networked.

An application guide, informational webinar, application and other grant resources can be found on the Charge Ahead Colorado Homepage.

Complementary to the RAQC’s Charge Ahead Colorado (CAC) program, Xcel Energy is once again offering Colorado businesses and organizations an opportunity to add electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to their locations through their Electric Vehicle Supply Infrastructure Program. Eligible organizations can offer these EV charging stations to their own fleet vehicles and customers or to the public. The Xcel Energy program can help you install the electrical infrastructure needed for the EV charging stations at no cost. See more information about the program, if your organization/company is eligible and how to apply here. The application is currently open through October 22nd, and projects will be awarded and program steps will begin in mid-November 2020.

The RAQC’s CAC program, in partnership with the Colorado Energy Office, currently offers grant funding for charging station projects, with the next funding round opening Oct. 1st. The Xcel Energy program provides a great opportunity to supplement charging station project costs in conjunction with CAC funding. This makes providing charging stations an affordable option in many settings with the significant support currently being offered. Project implementation timelines for the Xcel and RAQC programs are flexible enough to take advantage of both funding opportunities. Adoption of electric vehicles is critical to improve air quality and meet the State’s environmental goals.

The RAQC answers many common questions about the air quality issues our region faces, federal ozone standards, and how we can all make a difference in reducing ozone in an updated Q&A document. You can read it here.

On August 14, 2020, the EPA Administration published in the Federal Register a proposal to maintain the current level and form of the primary and secondary ozone standard of 70 parts per billion (ppb).  More information on the proposal can be found at: .  EPA is seeking comment on the proposed action. A will be held on August 31, 2020 and September 1, 2020.

In an effort to keep interested stakeholders informed of current happenings with RAQC programs, partners, and air quality news and events, the RAQC created The Air Monitor quarterly e-newsletter. You can read the most current issue here. If you are interested in subscribing to the newsletter, sign up here or contact Sara Goodwin.