Colorado relies heavily on coal-fired electricity, despite its negative effects. Besides the well-documented detriment to public health and the environment, coal comes with rising costs. That’s why Environment Colorado is working to increase the use of renewable energy throughout the state.

Renewable energy has the potential to protect health, the environment and consumer pocketbooks, and could save rural Colorado by providing supplemental income to farmers.

Current energy production is becoming too costly.
Electricity bills have increased substantially over the last several years because the price of obtaining coal is becoming more expensive. More demand for more electricity is also causing the price of coal to increase.

Coal is damaging our health and environment.
Coal-fired plants pollute our air and water, contributing to global warming and respiratory diseases such as asthma. Coal plants also require huge amounts of water—a limited resource in Colorado. “We can’t afford skyrocketing health care bills, water depletion and environmental clean-up costs,” explained Jake Meffley, Environment Colorado’s energy advocate.

Renewables represent a cheap and clean alternative.
Most Colorado farms are struggling financially and need new sources of income. Renewable energy harvested in rural communities can help subsidize income. The replacement of coal-fired electricity with wind and solar energy harvested by Colorado farmers has become a top priority for environmental, health and financial reasons. Environment Colorado is building rural coalitions to generate more renewable energy and to reduce dependence on coal-fired plants.

The key drawbacks of coal power

At one time, coal was the fuel of choice for home and industrial heating, until cleaner alternatives were developed. Now that those alternatives exist there is growing interest in power that does not damage the environment or health, and requires no fuel.

• 51 percent of the net electricity produced in the United States comes from coal—75 percent of Colorado’s electricity comes from coal (EIA: 2003). While coal will continue to be a major source of fuel for years to come, it comes with a big price tag. Damages to public health and the environment make coal increasingly less viable.

• Coal-fired plants are the largest single source of carbon dioxide and mercury emissions. The health implications of mercury emissions are well known. CO2 is the largest component of “greenhouse gasses” which contribute to global warming. In addition, coal-fired plants produce significant amounts of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and heavy and fine particulate matter. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are a major source of air pollution producing regional haze and negatively impacting those with respiratory problems.

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