Colorado's Renewable Energy Standard (RES) has been in effect since 2004, but in 2013, coal mine methane (CMM) and synthetic gas produced by pyrolysis of municipal solid waste (MSW) were added as eligible energy resources as long as the renewable energy projects are greenhouse (GHG) neutral. The purpose of this study was to develop a framework for project developers and the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to assess the GHG-neutrality of specific CMM and pyrolysis projects that generate electricity in Colorado. The report and accompanying calculation tools will serve as guidance in the RES certification process. The calculations use GHG accounting principles and equations from internationally-recognized CMM and MSW project protocols. A coal mine methane-to-electricity project may include a combination of methane sources from CMM, ventilation air methane (VAM), and abandoned mine methane (AMM).
