News and Updates Environmental Programs

Spring Solar Switch program is back

February 28, 2024 -- We launched Solar Switch Adams County to help you understand your solar options and save money. The Solar Switch Adams County spring program is now open for registrations. Join our newsletter to hear about the next Solar Switch sign-up window.

Adams County is pleased to support this program, which helps homeowners and small businesses secure a quality rooftop solar installation.

Using group buying and the expertise of nonprofit Solar United Neighbors, Solar Switch ensures that participants get a great deal on solar and battery storage and can make an informed decision.

Adams County launches Solar Switch -- a solar co-op program

October 30, 2023 -- Registration for the county-wide Solar Switch group-buy program closes with 1,116 members and 231 rooftop solar installation proposals accepted across Adams County. 

July 7, 2023 – For its second solar co-op, Adams County and nonprofit Solar United Neighbors (SUN) have partnered with six (6) other local governments to launch the 2023 Solar Switch solar group buying program for homeowners and small businesses.  The Solar Switch solar group-buying program offers homeowners and small businesses a convenient way to learn about and install rooftop solar panels and battery storage. By leveraging the power of group buying, and SUN's expertise, Solar Switch guarantees participants get a quality system at a discounted price. Solar Switch vets qualified installers to compete for the group and runs a reverse auction to secure a competitively priced solar package. To learn more about the Adams County Solar Switch program visit SolarSwitch.com/AdamsCounty

March 16, 2023 – Final impacts report for the first Adams County solar co-op reveal the program’s success in helping residents obtain rooftop solar installations at a significant savings through the group-buying model.  The 2022 Adams County solar co-op closed out with 202 members and 39 rooftop installations; the full impacts report can be viewed here. 

March 23, 2022 -- Adams County launched its first solar co-op for residents and businesses in support of the Sustainable Adams County 2030 Plan.  

Waste Diversion Improvement Program aims to increase recycling rates

June 7, 2023 -- Last year, Adams County received a grant from the CDPHE Front Range Waste Diversion Program to support its Waste Diversion Improvement Project (WDIP). The WDIP aims to increase recycling & waste diversion rates across unincorporated Adams County to 40% by 2034.  

The county is partnering with Resource Recycling Systems, Inc (RRS) to implement elements of the WDIP, including the development of a waste hauler licensing ordinance.  To learn more, visit our Waste Hauler Licensing page. 

June 2023 Electronic Waste Recycling Drop-Off Days Announced

May 3, 2023 -- Adams County residents may drop off items such as laptops, DVD players, phones, printers, televisions, computer monitors, and other electronics for recycling. Items will be recycled safely and responsibly to ensure a high level of data destruction for desktops, laptops, and other data containing equipment. Visit our Recycling and Sustainability page to see dates and details for this event. 

Adams County Recognizes Air Quality Awareness Week

May 1, 2023 -- Air Quality Awareness Week (AQAW) is a federal initiative that seeks to share information with the public about protecting and improving air quality. This year's theme is "Working Together for Clean Air." The week runs May 1-5, 2023, and each day has a different topic. To learn more, please click here. 

2023 Recycling Events Announced

March 13, 2023 -- Visit our Recycling and Sustainability page to see the recycling events that have been announced for Spring and Summer 2023. 

Suncor Refinery Incidents & Facility Shutdown Briefing

May 29, 2024 -- Adams County staff provided a review on the recent 4-year compliance history of the Suncor Refinery to the Board of County Commissioners.

January 19, 2023 -- Summary of Events - Due to the extreme and record-setting weather, Suncor's Commerce City refinery experienced equipment damage. Weather-related shutdowns led to several incidents over a week's time, including one incident on December 22, two incidents on December 24 and one incident on December 27, 2022. Please click here to read the full memorandum. 

Suncor Refinery Plants 1 and 3

May 9, 2022 -- Public notice period begins for Suncor Energy (U.S.A.), Inc. Operating Permit renewal for the Commerce City Refinery Plants 1 and 3 (West) in Adams County. The renewal permit incorporates approximately 23 modification applications submitted by Suncor from May 2017 through November 2021. A copy of the application, including supplemental information, the Division’s analysis, and a draft of the Renewal Operating Permit 96OPAD120 are available on the Division’s website.

The draft renewal Operating Permit incorporates the following changes in permitted emissions associated with the 23 modifications: PM/PM10/PM2.5: 2.02 tpy (increase), SO2: -0.03 tpy (decrease), NOX: 3.43 tpy (increase), VOC: 16.16 tpy (increase) and CO: 68.71 tpy (increase). There was no change in permitted HCN emissions.

Suncor Refinery Plant 2

On October 27, 2024 -- Adams County submitted comments to the Air Pollution Control Division on the proposed revisions to the Plant 2 Title V Operating Permit (renewal).

On March 25, 2022 -- EPA Region 8 Administrator K.C. Becker issued a letter containing specific objections and recommendations on the Suncor Plant 2 Renewal Permit to the Division. The Division must respond to the EPA’s objections and recommendations.

On Feb. 8, 2022 -- the Division issued its response to stakeholders' comments at the same time it submitted the proposed Suncor Plant 2 Renewal Permit to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 headquarters for review. In accordance with federal Clean Air Act statute, the EPA is provided 45 days in which to object or approve a proposed Title V Permit.

Adams County submitted a comment letter to EPA Region 8 on March 8, 2022, requesting the EPA approve the Permit with two conditions:

1. Require enhanced monitoring, reporting, and recordkeeping as set forth in the county’s previous comments to the Division;
2. Require Suncor to engage a third-party consultant, selected and supervised by the EPA, to identify corrective actions to remedy the unacceptable number of excess emission events (at the refinery).

On April 28, 2021 -- Adams County submitted supplemental comments to the Division incorporating feedback on Suncor’s consent order-mandated Root Cause Investigation (“RCI”) report, which was released to the public after the initial comment period ended. The county argued that the RCI and its determinations insufficiently identified true root causes for the frequent malfunctions, upsets, and emission events leading to Permit violations.

On March 17, 2021 -- Adams County submitted comments on the draft Suncor Refinery Plant 2 Renewal Title V Operating Permit (“Permit”) to the Air Pollution Control Division (Division). The letter also included a formal request to the Air Quality Control Commission to hold a public hearing on the permit, which would provide an additional venue for community members to participate and provide input to the Division on the Suncor permit.