If you read The Colorado Sun story “Pushback by counties on solar projects is challenging climate goals, Colorado officials say” from Oct. 20, the state of renewable energy siting in Colorado might seem particularly contentious. While that headline hints at strife, when it comes to wildlife, the data tells a different story. Colorado is closer to some renewable energy goals than it might seem.

It’s true that siting renewable energy projects is a complex issue. Colorado has been a leader in deploying clean energy to keep electricity costs low, maintain grid reliability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But to meet science-backed decarbonization targets, the state needs to build a lot of new renewable energy projects, which will have real impacts on the landscapes we recreate in, the working lands that feed us and the wildlife that call this place home.

That’s why the Colorado Energy Office’s new report, as required by the passage of Senate Bill 212 in 2024, examines renewable energy siting processes in the state today. To reach Gov. Jared Polis’ goal of a Colorado run on 100% renewable energy by 2040, the report estimates that the state must triple its wind generation and quintuple its solar capacity.

That will require approximately 60,000 to 80,000 acres for solar and an additional 11 gigawatts of wind — not accounting for additional electricity demand from AI data centers — development that’s estimated to directly impact 110,000 acres of Colorado land.

So, here’s where I hope to offer some optimism. There’s a key detail in the report that deserves more attention. 

Remember that 110,000 acres? The Energy Office report indicates that Colorado Parks and Wildlife has already consulted on 120,000 acres of proposed solar energy projects and more than 10 gigawatts of wind energy projects outside of CPW-identified high-priority habitat. To put it another way, there’s enough power already under consideration in Colorado to achieve the governor’s decarbonization goal, all outside of the most sensitive and valuable wildlife areas.

Of course, not every proposed project will come to fruition, and there are wildlife impacts to consider beyond the acres directly developed. But it’s clear the governor’s vision for a clean energy driven Colorado is possible and within reach, if we can work together to accelerate the construction of responsibly sited renewable energy projects.

According to the 2024 Conservation in the West poll, 78% of Coloradans believe we can increase the production of renewable energy while preserving natural areas, wildlife habitat and the character of our communities — an idea supported in a recent analysis by The Nature Conservancy. It is good to see the Colorado Energy Office’s report affirm this once again.

But let’s be clear-eyed. Successfully siting these projects with minimal impact to wildlife and important working lands will not be a walk in the park. It is essential that new solar, wind, storage and transmission projects avoid sensitive habitats and are directed into lower conflict areas early in each project’s siting and permitting process. 

Effective siting should proactively consider indirect impacts to wildlife — like the space between wind turbines and the new roads to service projects — as well as cumulative impacts — like how several projects built next to each other can impact the movement of big-game species.

Collaboration, not conflict, is the key to getting this right. As local siting processes in Colorado evolve, project developers should consult with CPW to aid in decision-making, as is sometimes requested by counties already. 

Early collaboration with CPW helps identify wildlife and habitat impacts before a project’s location is finalized, giving the developer more time and opportunity to choose a site where environmental harms can be limited. CPW also provides science-based recommendations to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts to wildlife and habitat, even for projects located in lower-conflict areas, and implementation of these recommendations is crucial.

As the state and counties try to determine the best way to preserve the Colorado way of life, bolster our economies, reach environmental targets and conserve precious ecosystems, the reality is there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to energy siting.

The Colorado Energy Office report shows that meeting the governor’s 2040 renewable targets does not mean our landscapes, agricultural economy and habitats must suffer. Decarbonization, land conservation and economic vitality can be complementary goals, so long as we act early and collaboratively. 

Smart siting that minimizes conflict isn’t just a technical fix to a tough problem; it’s how we honor Colorado values while building a more affordable, resilient and healthier future for us all.

Severiano DeSoto, of Morrison, is a policy advisor with Western Resource Advocates and focuses on renewable energy siting and permitting policy to achieve clean energy and conservation goals.

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