Bill To Curb Greenhouse Gas Emissions in State Projects Advances

Denver, CO – Senator Hansen’s bill to combat global warming was approved today by the Senate Transportation and Environment Committee. This bill aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by accounting for the global warming potential (GWP) of building materials used in state infrastructure projects. The committee approved the bill by a vote of 3-1.

“Our planet is in the midst of a climate crisis and we need to act,” said Sen. Hansen (D-Denver). “It's time to align our policies with our values and ensure that we are doing our part to protect the environment for generations to come. With this legislation, we can significantly lower emissions from the construction sector by using green building materials in-state projects.”

SB20-159 tasks the State Architect with promulgating policies to establish a maximum acceptable GWP for each category of eligible materials used in a public project based on industry averages and accounting for transportation-related emissions. Beginning on July 1, 2022, project designers would be required to submit environmental product declarations to account for the GWP of all eligible materials with the goal of using eligible materials below the maximum acceptable GWP.

The world’s top climate scientists warned in 2018 that in order to avoid the most catastrophic effects of global warming, governments around the world must cut carbon emissions roughly in half by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions not long after that. Last year, Colorado passed HB19-1261 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% in the coming decades, but the state has a long way to go. SB20-159 works in conjunction with parallel efforts to make strides towards this goal. 

The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

To learn more about the bill, click here.