October 3, 2025
DENVER — This week, the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) finalized a statewide review of renewable energy siting policy, as directed by Senate Bill 24-212 in 2024.
The Colorado Renewable Energy Siting Coalition — which includes Audubon Rockies, Clean Air Task Force, Conservation Colorado, The Nature Conservancy and Western Resource Advocates — commends CEO’s efforts, which seek to balance several goals for Colorado: rapid renewable energy deployment, the economic vitality of communities across the state and conservation of Colorado’s lands, waters and wildlife. The report offers Colorado the chance to lead the nation as it develops proactive, balanced renewable energy siting legislation in the years to come.
Colorado will need to site a significant amount of renewable energy to meet its clean energy goals. According to the 2024 Conservation in the West poll, 78% of Coloradans believe we can increase the production of renewable energy while preserving natural areas, wildlife habitat and the character of our communities — an idea supported in a recent analysis by The Nature Conservancy.
The report further affirms this. To meet Colorado’s stated goal of reaching 100% renewable energy by 2040, CEO estimates the state will need approximately 60,000 acres for solar and an additional 11 gigawatts of wind. The report indicates Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has already consulted on 120,000 acres of proposed solar energy projects and more than 10 gigawatts of wind energy projects outside of identified high priority habitat — enough needed to achieve Colorado’s 2040 goal, all outside of the most sensitive and valuable lands. Colorado has ample opportunity to develop renewable energy without harming critical wildlife areas, provided that state and local siting and permitting policies prioritize responsible development.
Despite this notable finding, and acknowledgment that renewable energy development can negatively impact wildlife species and habitat, the report does not provide the comprehensive analysis and policy solutions that are needed to substantively prevent such impacts. Although the report advises project developers to consult with CPW, it fails to address key regulatory gaps within the agency’s process. Consultation is often requested after a project’s location has already been determined, and no state or local policy mechanism is identified to steer projects away from high priority habitats and into lower-conflict locations early in the process.
To address community involvement, CEO’s report provides a fair assessment of siting policies in a range of states across the country, which will be a valuable tool as Colorado works to ensure that local governments and communities retain a meaningful role in renewable energy siting processes and are equipped with the resources and tools necessary to participate. The coalition commends CEO for recognizing the important role of meaningful community engagement and community benefits when siting renewable energy projects.
The coalition also appreciates CEO’s emphasis on expanding state and regional transmission infrastructure to improve efficiency, reduce interconnection queue times, provide certainty to renewable energy developers, enable electrification and meet decarbonization goals.
As Colorado works to reform siting policy, the coalition urges the state to offer improved and actionable recommendations to accelerate deployment of new renewable energy resources while meaningfully addressing potential adverse impacts to wildlife species and habitat and ensuring that communities benefit from the transition to a new energy economy. The coalition looks forward to working with Governor Polis’ administration and the legislature to realize these goals.
In this instance, Colorado can have its cake and eat it too. Rapid clean energy deployment and habitat conservation aren’t mutually exclusive goals. The state can, and must, decarbonize at the pace needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change while also protecting the landscapes and wildlife that make Colorado so special.
“Colorado has an exciting national leadership opportunity to build a clean energy future through improved clean energy and transmission siting policy,” said Kelsey Landau, senior associate for clean energy infrastructure at Clean Air Task Force. “The Colorado Energy Office’s siting report takes an important step forward that should be met with legislative action to ensure rapid decarbonization that works for communities, conservation and the climate.”
“Colorado residents are faced with climate change impacts on almost a daily basis, from drought conditions to air quality concerns,” said Daly Edmunds, director of policy and outreach at Audubon Rockies. “The progress achieved through SB 24-212, which resulted in this report, is helping to move the much-needed policy conversation forward. Now our communities and valued wildlife resources need our leaders to build on that progress.”
“Colorado is well positioned to demonstrate that a swift transition to affordable clean energy that delivers significant economic benefits for communities and minimizes impacts to wildlife and habitat is possible,” said Jakob Lindaas, director of climate action at The Nature Conservancy in Colorado. “Although the SB 24-212 report omits key data on indirect and cumulative impacts of renewable energy development, it moves the conversation forward on how to balance these critical objectives in an energy transition that works for both people and nature.”
