Public News Service | Eric Galatas
Colorado wants to reduce climate pollution from apartments and commercial buildings 50,000 square feet and larger, but there is growing concern retrofitting buildings could exacerbate the state’s affordable housing crisis if costs are passed along to tenants.
Jennifer Gremmert, president and CEO of Energy Outreach Colorado, said as climate mitigation funding becomes available from the Inflation Reduction Act and other sources, it is important to ensure protections for families already struggling to pay their utilities and rent.
“We’re optimistic about a lot of funding coming in,” Gremmert noted. “But we really need to target it in the area where we believe there is the most need. And that’s affordable housing, buildings that are serving vulnerable households, etc.”
Regulation 28, set to go into effect in mid-October, aims to reduce emissions by 7% by 2026, and 20% by 2030. Building owners will have some leeway in how they can comply and limit costs, and state officials will help property managers get information about grants and other ways to finance a major shift in how households use energy.
"We're still seeing really high need for energy assistance. We know a lot of our families are struggling to not only afford their utilities, but their housing. And so we're just concerned about how all of these different policies coming together could have unintended consequences."
