Colorado:An Air Quality History

WESTAR SPRING BUSINESS MEETING

MAR CH 29 – 30, 2010

Colorado by the Numbers 5.17 million residents statewide (est.)

4.24 million residents in Front Range (est.)

54 “14ers”

29 Ski Areas

GDP by Major Industry Sector (2007):

Services – $65.7 Billion

Finance, Insurance and Real Estate – $44.1

Government - $28.0

Information – $21.4

Manufacturing - $15.2

Retail Trade - $14.3

Wholesale Trade - $13.2

Construction - $12.4

Mining - $10.9

1970 Clean Air Act

Most Sweeping Environmental Legislation in United States History

Set National Health-Based Air Quality Standards

Carbon Monoxide

Lead

Nitrogen Oxide

Ozone

Total Suspended Particulates

Sulfur Dioxide

Required States to Establish and Maintain Clean Air

Required Each State to Adopt a State Implementation Plan and Establish Permitting and Enforcement Systems

NONATTAINMENT Denver-Metropolitan Area

4 of 6 Original Criteria Pollutant Standards (Carbon Monoxide, Lead, Nitrogen Oxide, Ozone)

Also Nonattainment for PM10 Standard that replaced the TSP Standard in 1987

More Than a Dozen CO/PM10 Nonattainment Areas Throughout the State

Proactive Colorado (Firsts and Near-Firsts)

1977: Colorado Car (High Altitude Emissions Standards)

1981: Automobile Inspection and Maintenance Programs

1985: Emissions Standards for New Woodburning Stoves

1987: Mandatory Testing for Individual Diesel Vehicles and Fleets

1988: Oxygenated Fuels Program along Colorado’s Front Range

1990: Urban Visibility Standard

1990: Banned Sale of Non EPA-Certified Stoves

1993: Banned Installation of Woodburning Fireplaces in New Construction

1995: Enhanced Automobile Inspection and Maintenance

Colorado Air Quality Today

All Areas of Colorado Attaining Original National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Working Effectively Toward Attainment of Newer, More Stringent Ozone Standard

Expanding Air Quality Monitoring Network

Expanding Air Quality Forecasting Statewide

Changing Demographics

State Population Estimates

1970: 2,209,596*

1980: 2,889,733*

1990: 3,294,394*

2000: 4.33 million (2000 census)

2010: 5.17 million*

2020: 6.19 million*

2030: 7.23 million*

Front Range Population Estimates

* Colorado State Demography Office

2000: 3.54 (2000 census)

2010: 4.24 million*

2020: 5.01 million*

2030: 6.15 million*

Colorado Air Quality Challenges

More Stringent Standards Ozone

1997 Standard:.08 ppm

2008 Standard: .075 ppm

2010 (Proposed): .06 - .07 ppm

Nitrogen Dioxide

1971 Standard: .053 ppm annual average

2010 Standard: 100 ppb (1-hour daily max)

PM 2.5

1997 Standards: 65 μg/m3 (24-hour avg.) and 15 μg/m3

(annual)

2006 Standards: 35 μg/m3 (24-hour avg.) and 15 μg/m3

(annual)

Colorado Air Quality Challenges

Regional Haze Requires visibility improvements

National Parks and Wilderness Areas

Submitted BART for 12 Facilities in 2007 and 2008, plus other chapters

Working on Reasonable Progress and BART Review with U.S. EPA (Region 8) in 2010

Mercury

Over 18 Hg Fish Consumption Advisories in Colorado water bodies

Statewide Regulations to Reduce EGU Mercury Emissions (2012, 2014, 2018)

Colorado Air Quality Initiatives Proposed Clean Air/Clean Jobs Act

Sharply reduce air pollutants by retiring, retrofitting or repowering Northern Front Range coal‑fired power plants by or before the end of 2017 (or sooner)

Will help Colorado meet Regional Haze SIP Requirements

Will help Colorado meet Ozone and NO2 requirements

House Bill 10-1001

Requires 30 percent of electricity be generated by renewable sources by 2020

Requires 3 percent be met by solar power

100,000 solar rooftops

Consumer and Rate-payer protections