Boulder's Climate Action Plan

In 2002, the Boulder City Council passed Resolution 906 , committing the community to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to the target established by the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement adopted in 1997 to combat global climate change. Boulder's goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate Action Plan Focus Areas

Select from the sustainability icons below to learn more about the six CAP focus areas and the resources available for Boulder residents and businesses:

Reduce Use

Build Better

Renewables

Travel Wise

Waste Not

Grow Green

The city has been producing annual reports for the community on greenhouse gas emissions management since 2004. In 2006, the Boulder City Council adopted a Climate Action Plan (CAP) and Boulder voters passed the CAP tax, the nation's first tax exclusively designed for climate change mitigation. The CAP was evaluated and updated in 2009 , leading to the 2011 roll-out of the one-stop-shop energy efficiency program, EnergySmart. 2009 also marked the first release of the Community Guide to Boulder's Climate Action Plan , which combines a report on the community's progress toward meeting the Kyoto goal with resources for residents and businesses.

Since CAP programs formally began in 2007, the community's carbon emissions have remained stable – meaning that Boulder's emissions were 4.5 percent less in 2010 than they could have been had pre-CAP trends continued. However, the city's emissions in 2010 remained 27 percent higher than the 2012 Kyoto goal. The city is engaging a community dialogue to decide how to escalate progress toward reaching the Kyoto goal, and what the community's goal should be after 2012.

• Learn about the 2010 greenhouse gas inventory and how it was calculated.
• Learn what the City of Boulder is doing to reduce its organizational greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate Action Plan Resources

Progress Reports

•  The Community Guide to Boulder's Climate Action Plan 2010/2011 Progress Report (Sept. 2011)
•  The Community Guide to Boulder's Climate Action Plan 2009/2010 Progress Report (July 2010)
•  City of Boulder Climate and Energy Programs 2007 Progress Report (Mar. 2008)
•  City of Boulder Climate and Energy Programs 2006 Progress Report (Feb. 2007)
•  City of Boulder 2005 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management Plan (Dec. 2005)
•  2004 Progress Report on the City of Boulder Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management Plan (Dec. 2004)

Plans, Guides, and Evaluations

•  The City of Boulder 2006 Climate Action Plan (Sept. 2006)
•  A Community Takes Charge: Boulder's Carbon Tax (Feb. 2007)
•  City of Boulder Climate Action Plan Assessment (July 2009)
•  The Community Guide to Boulder's Climate Action Plan (Oct. 2009)
• Climate Action Plan Analysis Report by Rocky Mountain Institute (May 2012)
  
  • Summary of RMI report
• Energy Programs: Options and Conclusions Report by The Brendle Group (July 2012)
  
  • Summary of Brendle report

2010 CAP Technical Teams 

• CAP Technical Teams
• Boulder's Energy Future

Climate Action Plan Tax

In November 2006, Boulder voters passed the Climate Action Plan (CAP) tax, the nation's first tax exclusively designated for climate change mitigation. City residents and businesses are taxed based on the amount of electricity they consume. The City Council has the authority to set the rate for each user type within an approved range. Since July 2009, the rates have been set at the maximum allowable level. The CAP tax generated approximately $1.8 million in 2010. It will expire on March 31, 2013. For more information on the history of the CAP tax, please read the staff white paper, A Community Takes Charge .

Xcel Energy collects the tax for the city through its monthly customer utility billing. Customers who subscribe to wind-generated power through Xcel Energy's Windsource program are not taxed for that portion of their electricity use.

Current CAP Tax Rates

Questions?

For questions about CAP programs or the CAP tax, please contact Kara Mertz, Local Environmental Action Division Manager, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For billing questions, please contact Xcel Energy at (800) 895-4999.

Last Updated on Thursday, 01 November 2012 10:55