Colorado: Polis Administration Awards $21.6 Million to Support Local Climate Action

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STATEWIDE ~ The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) has recently announced that they will be providing $21.6 million in grant awards to support local governments in adopting policies and advancing programs that reduce pollution and boost local resilience. These grants, funded by the federal government through the Local IMPACT Accelerator Grant program, will be distributed among 17 projects that focus on promoting policies in four categories: buildings, land use, transportation, and waste.

Governor Polis expressed his excitement about these grants, stating that Colorado is leading the way in connecting local governments with the necessary investments to boost the clean energy economy and protect air quality. He believes that these investments will help transform local communities by expanding housing options, creating clean transportation options, and promoting responsible land use for future generations.

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The CEO's Executive Director Will Toor also emphasized the importance of local policy adoption in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. He stated that these grants will turn state priorities into local realities and strengthen the long-term economic and environmental resilience of neighborhoods across Colorado.

The CEO prioritized projects with a high likelihood of success, existing stakeholder support, long-term impacts, high emissions reduction potential, and those located in low-income communities. As a result, 17 policy adoption projects were awarded with 16 of them also receiving funding for implementation.

These projects span across the state from the West Slope to Mountain Communities and from the Front Range to the plains. For example, the Town of Akron plans to use their grant to adopt new policies related to clean energy adoption and make energy efficiency upgrades to their Town Hall. This will not only benefit residents by saving them money on public energy costs but also contribute to reducing pollution.

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The City of Fort Collins received funding for two new policies: one aimed at improving street safety at intersections and another focused on implementing more robust energy performance standards for buildings than what is required by the state.

Winter Park's proposed policies include initiatives related to thermal energy, net-zero bus stops, and fast electric car chargers. They also plan to expand transit services and create local incentive programs.

A full list and descriptions of the awarded projects can be found in the Summary of Awards. The CEO has also announced that they will be awarding an additional $30 million to local governments from the second round of applications for this program, which closed in fall 2025.

These grants demonstrate Colorado's commitment to promoting clean energy and reducing pollution at the local level. With the support of these funds, local governments will be able to adopt policies that not only benefit their communities but also contribute to a more sustainable future for all.

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