Denver’s Energy Code aims to cut pollution, energy bills for households & businesses
A Colorado District Court Judge has dismissed a corporate-backed lawsuit against Denver ordinances aimed at reducing air pollution from buildings and reducing energy bills for owners and tenants. The court agreed with arguments made by the City of Denver and Sierra Club that federal law does not preempt the codes, and granted the parties’ request to dismiss the case.
“Denver residents support action against severe pollution and this decision upholds a community’s local right to cut harmful air pollution,”said Dylan Plummer, Deputy Director of the Sierra Club’s Clean Heat Campaign.“Everyone deserves to breathe clean air, and Denver’s codes will help businesses and residents save money and improve public health.”
Denver’s building codes were written with input from industry groups. At times this summer, the city saw the worst air quality in the world as severe air pollution mixed with wildfire smoke.
“This decision correctly recognizes that Denver and other local governments have authority to regulate the use of polluting gas appliances in homes and buildings,” said Emma Hardy, associate attorney with Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountain Office. “The court in Colorado joined numerous other courts across the country that have recently recognized that federal law does not prevent states and local governments from adopting laws that encourage building electrification and limit the use of certain gas appliances for space and water heating.”
