Colorado: Republican Federal Budget Will Increase Energy Costs: Governor Polis Concerned By Proposed Federal Rollback of Clean Energy Funding and Money-Saving Initiatives

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DENVER ~ In a recent letter addressed to Colorado's congressional delegation and the leadership of the Senate Finance Committee, Governor Jared Polis and Energy Office Executive Director Will Toor expressed their concerns over proposed rollbacks in the Republicans' budget bill. The bill, if passed, would eliminate initiatives aimed at saving Coloradans money and promoting clean energy.

Governor Polis stated, "In Colorado, we work to save people money on energy. The Senate must scrap the House budget and start from scratch to remove these and other disastrous cuts that will increase costs, make America less competitive, and increase pollution."

According to a report by the Energy Information Administration, in 2024, 95 percent of new electricity capacity across the United States came from new solar, batteries, nuclear, and wind power. However, the proposed rollbacks from House Republicans would take away these money-saving solutions and raise energy costs for Colorado families by 10% by 2030. This would also hinder the fastest way to add much-needed energy to the grid.

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The federal cuts proposed by Republicans would not only harm Colorado's clean energy industry but also have a negative impact on landowners and farmers. It would also hinder advanced clean manufacturing and destroy good-paying jobs while weakening the state's economy.

Governor Polis and Director Toor highlighted in their letter that up to thirty percent of Colorado households are considered "energy burdened," meaning a significant portion of their income is spent on electricity, heating, and cooling. They also emphasized how federal investments and credits from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have been instrumental in lowering costs for households using at-home energy tax savings.

The letter further stated that these proposed rollbacks would be a "self-inflicted wound" for rural Colorado as they would erase real progress made across the state. The cuts would strip away tools that Colorado farmers, ranchers, and landowners are currently using to lower costs, boost yields, and build resilience against drought and extreme weather.

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Governor Polis and Director Toor also highlighted the importance of the IRA in strengthening U.S.-based manufacturing of critical technologies such as batteries, solar components, and semiconductors. They stated that this is not only smart economic policy but also essential for military readiness and energy resilience, especially for Colorado's defense installations like Fort Carson, Buckley Space Force Base, and the Air Force Academy.

The letter concluded by stating that backtracking on these commitments now would send a "deeply destabilizing signal" to free markets, developers, and manufacturers who have chosen Colorado because of its strong policy alignment and predictable federal support. If these provisions are included in the final bill, it would go against the best interests of the people of Colorado as well as future generations.

Governor Polis's full letter can be read for more details on the potential impact of these rollbacks. It is clear that if passed, this budget bill would not only increase costs for Colorado families but also harm the state's clean energy industry and overall economy. The governor urges Congress to reconsider these proposed cuts and work towards a budget that benefits all Americans.

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