News

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 fifth issue here. If you are interested in subscribing to the newsletter, sign up here or contact Sara Goodwin at sgoodwin@raqc.org.

The North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO) recently included an article in their quarterly newsletter on the 2019 ozone season, written by RAQC staff member Amanda Brimmer. Read the article on page 2 here.

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.

As anticipated, on December 26^th , the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule reclassifying the Denver Metro/North Front Range ozone nonattainment area from Moderate to Serious.  The final rule outlines the planning requirements for a Serious area, which is consistent with the elements and timeline the RAQC, in close coordination with the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division and EPA Region 8 staff, have been working under for more than a year.  While the Serious Area Ozone State Implementation Plan (SIP) deadline in the final rule is August 3, 2020, due to the unique requirement in Colorado that SIP’s go through the State legislature, the SIP is anticipated to be submitted to EPA in early 2021, following RAQC and Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) approval in 2020. 

EPA’s press release can be found here.  

The RAQC’s Simple Steps. Better Air. (SSBA) ozone outreach and education program released its 2019 year-end report. You can read the report here or by going to the SSBA program page.

Governor Polis, Mayor Hancock and Lyft announced today that 200 long-range electric vehicles will be made available to rent in December for its drivers in Denver. You can read a news story about the announcement here.

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 fourth issue here. If you are interested in subscribing to the newsletter, sign up here or contact Sara Goodwin at sgoodwin@raqc.org.

In October, the Colorado Energy Office released a Renewable Natural Gas in Transportation: Colorado Market Study that provides a preliminary assessment of the state’s potential to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) from major organic waste sources – including landfills, wastewater, animal and food waste – for use in on-road transportation systems. The study finds Colorado’s RNG resource could replace approximately 140 million gallons of diesel, or 24% of the state’s total diesel consumption for transportation, eliminating approximately 1.4 million metric tons of CO2 emissions from fuel combustion annually.

To improve air quality throughout the state of Colorado, the RAQC is reopening the ALT Fuels Colorado program this fall to continue incentivizing the replacement and scrappage of pre-2009 medium & heavy duty vehicles, school and shuttle buses, airport ground support equipment, freight switchers, forklifts, and port cargo handling equipment. These funds are available to all public, private, and non-profit fleets statewide. Go to the program website for more information and to apply.