Governor Polis & Administration Applaud Dept. of Energy Funding for School of Mines

Polis Administration supported School of Mines application and has been proactive in evaluating the role of carbon capture to achieve Colorado's greenhouse gas reduction goals

PUEBLO - Governor Polis and his administration applauded the U.S. Department of Energy for awarding funding to the Colorado School of Mines to develop a regional CO2 storage hub to address emissions from cement, hydrogen, and power plants, including geologic characterization efforts at two sites in Colorado’s Pueblo region. This funding is a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. Governor Polis was one of the first governors in the country to support this transformational legislation, which  Congress passed with support from the majority of Colorado’s federal delegation.  The Governor and Will Toor Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Office supported the application for this federal funding. 

“This is a positive plan for our higher education system, for students in Golden and Pueblo, and for our air, climate, and planet. I was proud to sign new laws in partnership with the legislature to save people money on energy and reduce carbon emissions and pollution,” said Governor Polis. 

Last week in Aurora, Governor Polis signed  HB23-1272 Tax Policy That Advances Decarbonization, a transformative new law sponsored by Representatives Mike Weissman and Junie Joseph and Senators Steve Fenberg and Lisa Cutter. This bold new law is the largest investment in clean energy and air quality improvements in Colorado's history and supports the Polis administration's ongoing work in partnership with the legislature to make sure Coloradans have low-cost, reliable energy. Notably, this new law signed by the Governor includes competitive industrial decarbonization tax credits, and both carbon capture and clean hydrogen are eligible uses. In the coming weeks, Governor Polis plans to sign additional landmark legislation into law which he launched with the legislature including HB23-1281 Advance The Use Of Clean Hydrogen sponsored by Rep. Brianna Titone, Rep. Stephanie Vigil and Sen. Lisa Cutter, SB23-285 Energy And Carbon Management Regulation In Colorado sponsored by Sen. Kevin Priola, Sen. Chris Hansen, Rep. Ruby Dickson, and Rep. Karen Karen McCormick and HB23-1210 Carbon Management sponsored by Rep. Dickson, Sen. Hansen and Sen. Priola.  

“Less pollution, cleaner air, and more jobs are the upshots of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm in a press release. “Thanks to historic clean energy investments, DOE is building out the infrastructure needed to slash harmful carbon pollution from industry and the power sector, revitalize local economies, and unlock enormous public health benefits.”   

More than $3.6 billion in funding from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been announced and is headed to Colorado. Governor Polis is spearheading efforts to ensure that these dollars reach communities across the state, including funding efforts to increase capacity for local governments.