REMARKS: Solar Power & Energy Storage Mountain West Conference (COSSA) Defending Colorado’s Clean Energy Future (Mar. 4, 2026)

It is a pleasure to be with you today to discuss how Colorado is working to advance and defend our clean energy future at a time when our federal government has embarked on a concerted effort to move our nation back to the 20^th century, including illegal efforts to keep expensive, unreliable, and dirty coal plants open. In Colorado, we are committed, as former Governor Bill Ritter put it, to “call the clean energy transition what it truly is: the greatest economic and moral opportunity of our time.”[1] That means, at this critical moment for Colorado and the clean energy transition more broadly, we must not only defend the ground we have gained, but we must also continue to develop solutions and innovations that will carry us into the future.

I. Defending Against Federal Attacks on Climate Protections and Clean Energy

Since taking office, the second Trump Administration has engaged in a broad assault on longstanding efforts to protect our land, air, and water, address the challenges of climate change, and transition to cleaner energy sources. To make matters worse, the Administration is attempting to enact these rollbacks through unlawful means that contradict policy and spending decisions made by Congress. And it is doing so in ways that violate states’ sovereign power to make policies within their own borders.

Just last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule rescinding the 2009 endangerment finding, the foundation of EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases and the bedrock on which a wide swath of our federal climate regulations was built.[2] Among other things, this decision eliminates all federal greenhouse gas standards for vehicles. As I shared in my testimony before the EPA opposing this outcome, this decision flies in the face of common sense and extensive scientific research, including research conducted by our own government.[3] It also flies in the face of the Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, which made plain that the EPA had an obligation to take climate change seriously as a threat to human health.[4]

At a time when the reality of climate change is more concerning than ever, the federal government is sticking its head in the sand and refusing to acknowledge its impacts in the form of variable weather patterns, drought, and increasing wildfires. Along with other State Attorneys General, I will challenge this illegal action. And in Colorado, I will continue to step up to protect our land, air, and water in the face of the federal government’s abdication of its responsibilities.

Making matters worse is that the federal government is not only failing to fulfill its legal, economic, and moral obligations, but it is working to undermine efforts by states like Colorado. Before the repeal of the endangerment finding, for example, the Trump Administration had already attempted to unlawfully use the Congressional Review Act to remove Clean Air Act waivers that allowed California to adopt more stringent vehicle emissions standards than the federal government’s, which, in turn, allowed like-minded states like Colorado to follow those stricter standards.[5] We are now challenging this action in court, as well as defending Colorado’s cost-effective clean car program that helps improve air quality, reduce harmful ozone pollution, and increase choices that Coloradans have when purchasing an electric vehicle.[6]

In yet another insult on top of its injury to our nation’s climate response, the Trump Administration is attempting to manufacture false energy “emergencies” to help justify its unlawful actions. Notably, on Inauguration Day, President Trump signed an executive order invoking the National Emergencies Act—normally reserved for natural disasters and accidents such as hurricanes and catastrophic oil spills—to declare a “national energy emergency.” This was done despite the fact that U.S. oil and gas production is at an all-time high.[7] This action is being used to fast-track approval of projects like the Wildcat Loadout Facility, which will transport hundreds of thousands of barrels of waxy crude oil each day along the Colorado River, subjecting this critical water source to the risk of derailments, spills, and other accidents.[8] We are challenging this made-up energy emergency in court to ensure that projects like this receive proper environmental reviews to protect the safety of our environment and our residents.

The Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright, is similarly attempting to use emergency authority under the Federal Power Act to prevent the scheduled closure of a coal-fired power unit in Craig, Colorado.[9] Through a carefully planned process, Colorado had decided a decade ago to retire this unit for economic reasons and to replace it with more reliable and cost-effective energy resources. This illegal order—again predicated on a fictional “energy emergency”—will result in millions of dollars of unnecessary costs for rural Coloradans already facing high energy bills, while also increasing pollution and harming public health. There is no sound reason to keep this facility open, and I am challenging this action as an unlawful intrusion into state authority to chart our own energy future.

My office will continue to push back on the federal government’s unlawful attempts to take us backward on climate and energy policy. I am encouraged by an early win we already secured on this front through our successful challenge to the Trump Administration’s day-one attempt to categorically and indefinitely halt all wind energy development. The federal memorandum to make this abrupt change was struck down by the court as arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law.[10] Like many of the actions I have discussed today, there was no reasoned explanation for this change to federal policy that would harm states’ ability to secure affordable sources of energy to meet increasing electricity demands and clean energy goals. I am confident that we will continue to succeed in our challenges to these actions in court.

II. Fighting Unlawful Federal Attempts to Defund Clean Energy Projects and Programs

Since Inauguration Day, the Trump Administration has engaged in many efforts to unlawfully defund or otherwise halt clean energy projects and programs that were authorized by Congress. Just last month, I co-led a coalition of attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to terminate billions in funding for congressionally mandated energy and infrastructure programs—specifically, in states that did not vote for the president—including $600 million slated for public and private projects in Colorado.[11] These projects included funding to the Colorado School of Mines for a carbon-storage hub in Pueblo, funding to Colorado State University to reduce methane emissions from low-producing oil and gas wells, and funding to the University of Colorado at Boulder for a public/private consortium developing perovskite tandem solar cell technology, which—as many in this room know—is widely considered to be the future of the solar cell industry.[12]

In another crucial action related to the solar energy industry, my office is suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for illegally ending the $7 billion Solar for All program that Congress created to provide competitive grants to states to deploy solar projects in low-income and disadvantaged areas.[13] Colorado already invested major sums in planning for projects funded by these grant awards, including as part of a $156 million grant to Colorado creating 1,000 jobs, delivering clean solar energy to more than 20,000 low-income households, and directly funding community solar projects in the state.[14] We know that the loss of this funding would harm Colorado’s fast-growing solar industry and hinder our ability to meet our clean energy goals, including ensuring that solar energy can be accessed by all Coloradans and not just the most well off. That’s why we are fighting hard in court to recover these funds.

My team and I secured some early wins in the funding space. For example, we successfully challenged the U.S. Department of Energy’s attempt to impose a new funding cap that would have slashed support for vital state-run energy programs, including programs to increase affordable access to clean energy in rural and urban areas across the state and create clean energy jobs.[15] We have also won a preliminary injunction to stop the Trump Administration from illegally terminating billions in congressionally approved funding for electric vehicle infrastructure as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, including for federally-approved plans designed to fill gaps in rural Colorado and other underserved communities.[16] I will continue to fight against unlawful attempts by the federal administration to circumvent Congress’ authority and claw back funds that Colorado is relying on to advance our clean energy goals.

III. Charting a Path Forward for Colorado

At the same time as we are fighting to defend the progress we have made, Colorado must continue to look forward. Colorado’s energy future depends on limiting our carbon emissions and deploying more clean power generation like wind and solar. We will not let unlawful overreaches by the federal government stop us from working toward that future and from continuing on our path as an emerging national clean energy leader.

As we consider Colorado’s transition to incorporating solar as a key centerpiece of our energy infrastructure, there are a few key areas worthy of focus. One key priority is to ensure that our utilities provide transparency, accessibility, and dispatchability. This includes providing access to data on hosting capacity to show where the grid has room for more solar energy and data to ensure that solar program participants can get paid for the grid-stabilizing power they provide.

We should also continue and expand solar energy programs and incentives that are working well to increase equitable access to solar and improve our grid’s reliability, such as the Renewable Battery Connect program that interconnects homeowners’ and business owners’ solar and battery systems to our grid. This program helps customers save on their energy bills while also providing backup energy in the event of Public Service Power Shutoffs and other service interruptions. Another program worthy of continuation and expansion is Colorado’s inclusive community solar program, which helps ensure that all Coloradans—and not just the most well-off—can access the benefits of solar energy savings, even if they do not have suitable roofs to support solar panels.

Especially in the face of elimination of federal tax credits—which I am also opposing in court[17]—it will be important to ensure that homeowners who invested in solar to help power the state are able to benefit from the full retail rate for their energy, enabling them to credit excess energy against their bills at the same rate they purchase it. One intriguing opportunity is to provide flexible interconnection for the Aggregator Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Program, which ensures that third-party installers and software companies can manage their own fleets of batteries to provide grid services. This program promises to help statewide energy resilience while ensuring revenue stream for both homeowners and businesses that provide these services. In short, we need to ensure we are building a resilient, diversified energy grid that is accessible to everyone in the state and prioritizes transparent interconnection and interoperability.

Recent widespread and rapid adoption of affordable solar energy in South Africa—though not without its own challenges—provides an encouraging model for what we can create here in Colorado. In just the last five years, over 7 gigawatts of largely privately-owned solar paneling has been installed across the country, representing roughly 10% of South Africa’s total capacity of 55 gigawatts.[18] These changes have helped South Africans cope with chronic power outages, while allowing some users to reduce their energy bills by up to two-thirds.[19] This type of real-world transformation shows the promise of cheap solar energy, especially when supported and facilitated appropriately.

***

In many ways, this is a challenging and uncertain moment for clean energy. Nonetheless, I am confident that we can continue and expand the strides we have made. In Colorado, we are committed to charting our own clean energy future and we have the tools and resources needed to do it. As we move forward, we must continue to think creatively, support those impacted by these transitions, and ensure that all Coloradans can benefit from our advancements. Thank you all for your important work towards making that future a reality.

 

[1] Bill Ritter Jr., Opinion, Donald Trump’s reality is at odds with the crisis we are living in Colorado, DENVER POST (Sept. 27, 2025), https://www.denverpost.com/2025/09/27/bill-ritter-while-the-president-denies-climate-change-colorado-lives-the-crisis-and-leads-the-response/ (opens new tab).

[2] Colorado Department of Law, Attorney General Phil Weiser statement on U.S. EPA revoking a key policy to combat climate change (Feb. 12, 2026), https://coag.gov/press-releases/weiser-statement-on-us-epa-rescinding-endangerment-finding/.

[3] Colorado Department of Law, Attorney General Phil Weiser testifies in opposition to EPA ending vehicle emission standards, climate protections (Aug. 20, 2025), https://coag.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-phil-weiser-testimony-epa-climate-protections-8-20-25/.

[4] Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007).

[5] Colorado Department of Law, Attorney General Phil Weiser joins lawsuit challenging Trump administration’s attack on Colorado’s Clean Car Program (June 12, 2025), https://coag.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-phil-weiser-trump-attack-clean-car-6-12-25/.

[6] Id.

[7] Colorado Department of Law, Attorney General Phil Weiser sues President Trump, Interior Secretary Burgum over made-up “energy emergency” (Feb. 2, 2026), https://coag.gov/press-releases/weiser-sues-president-trump-interior-secretary-burgum-over-made-up-energy-emergency/.

[8] Id.

[9] Colorado Department of Law, Attorney General Phil Weiser challenges federal order keeping Craig coal-fired power unit open (Jan. 28, 2026), https://coag.gov/press-releases/weiser-challenges-federal-order-keeping-craig-coal-fired-power-unit-open/.

[10] Spencer Kimball, Trump ban on wind power projects overturned by federal judge, CNBC (Dec. 9, 2025), https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/08/trump-ban-on-wind-power-projects-overturned-by-federal-judge.html (opens new tab).

[11] Colorado Department of Law, Attorney General Phil Weiser sues Energy Secretary Chris Wright for illegally ending $600M in leading-edge energy projects in Colorado (Feb. 18, 2026), https://coag.gov/press-releases/weiser-sues-energy-secretary-for-illegally-ending-600m-in-colorado-energy-projects/.

[12] Id.

[13] Colorado Department of Law, Attorney General Phil Weiser sues Trump’s EPA to recover Solar for All funds (Oct. 16, 2025), https://coag.gov/2025/sues-trumps-epa-to-recover-solar-for-all-funds/.

[14] Id.; The Associated Press and Michael Booth, EPA cancels $7 billion Solar for All grant program to boost green energy, AP (Aug. 7, 2025), https://coloradosun.com/2025/08/07/solar-for-all-grants-colorado-epa-clean-energy/ (opens new tab).

[15] Colorado Department of Law, Attorney General Phil Weiser sues to stop federal cuts that threaten state-run energy programs (Aug. 15, 2025), https://coag.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-phil-weiser-federal-cuts-state-energy-programs-8-15-25/.

[16] Colorado Department of Law, Attorney General Phil Weiser sues to stop illegal termination of federal electric vehicle infrastructure funding (May 7, 2025), https://coag.gov/press-releases/phil-weiser-sues-trump-federal-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-funding-5-7-25/; Reuters, Trump administration unlawfully suspended EV charger infrastructure program, U.S. judge rules, CNBC (Jan. 24, 2026), https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/24/us-judge-trump-admin-unlawfully-suspended-ev-charger-program.html (opens new tab).

[17] Amici Curiae States of Oregon et al., Amicus Curiae Brief in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment, Oregon Env’t Counsel v. Internal Revenue Serv., No. 1:25‑cv‑04400‑CKK (D.D.C. filed Feb. 2026), https://www.doj.state.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/RETC-4400-PLD-Amicus-Brief-in-Support-of-Plaintiffs-Motion-for-Summary-Judgment.pdf (PDF) (challenging a new Internal Revenue Service rule that makes it harder for wind and solar energy project to qualify for long-standing federal tax credits).

[18] Somini Sengupta, Cheap Solar Is Transforming Lives and Economies Across Africa, NEW YORK TIMES (Dec. 30, 2025), https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/climate/solar-south-africa-china.html (opens new tab).

[19] Id.