This morning, the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office announced that the Climate Trust will be responsible for implementing the Colorado Carbon Fund, a program intended to help Colorado establish a “new energy economy.”

Specifically, the Colorado Carbon Fund will provide Colorado residents with easy access to verifiable carbon offsets. It’s only one part of an over all Colorado Climate Action Plan, which includes funding community-based clean energy projects and offering incentives to cleantech companies who operate in Colorado as well as research funds.

The part of the Colorado Carbon Fund’s approach that I think is especially worthwhile is the fact that the carbon offsets offered to Colorado residents will be the result of Colorado based programs, rather than nebulous credits that occur ‘somewhere.’ Colorado residents will be able to see the direct results of the Carbon Fund. That sort of direct involvement is key in expanding interest in carbon offsets to Colorado residents who may not spend much time thinking about the environment.

Photo — Michael McDonough