Oil and gas greenhouse gas intensity program
January 2026 updates:
The 2026 state default intensity verification factors and reports are now available.
Greenhouse gas intensity plan and annual verification forms will be available in March 2026. Reports are due June 30, 2026.
Overview
In December 2021, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission adopted the requirements for the greenhouse gas intensity program within Regulation 7 Part B Section VIII. In July 2023, the commission adopted the greenhouse gas intensity verification rule. In May 2024, the Air Pollution Control Division published the oil and natural gas methane intensity verification protocol. The intensity verification protocol describes the reporting and verification of methane emissions and calculated greenhouse gas intensities as required by Regulation 7, part B, sections VIII.F. and VIII.G. All upstream segment owners or operators (production and pre-production) subject to Regulation 7, part B, section VIII must participate and adhere to the instructions and guidance requirements in the protocol.
The rule and protocol define how operators of upstream oil and gas facilities must:
- Calculate greenhouse gas intensity.
- Monitor facility operations to ensure compliance with intensity standards.
- Maintain records to accurately account for operational emissions.
The intent of the intensity program is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the upstream oil and natural gas segment through 2030. Greenhouse gas intensity is defined as the ratio of greenhouse gas emissions over the quantity of oil and gas produced.
The program intends to achieve emission reductions with the establishment of intensity targets for all operators. Intensity target years are 2025, 2027 and 2030, with more stringent targets each intensity year as required by Regulation 7, part B, section VIII.B.3, 4, and 5. New facilities that began operation after Dec. 31, 2022 are subject to more stringent facility-specific intensity targets as required by Regulation 7, part B, section VIII.C.
The protocol explains how operators must create a measurement-informed inventory of methane emissions using one of the following options:
- Option 1: Implement an operator-specific program.
- Option 2: Use a division-developed state default intensity verification factor.
The protocol also defines how the air division monitors methane emissions, generates the state default intensity verification factor(s), and reviews and approves operator-specific verification programs. The division will review the protocol annually and update this web page with the final documents.
The intensity program has specific reporting requirements established by Regulation 7 Part B Sections VIII.E. and VIII.G . Operators must submit an intensity plan and annual verification report.
Annual state default intensity verification factors and reports
Beginning in 2024, the division must publish the state default intensity verification factor(s) by December 31 of each year through 2029, as required by Regulation 7, part B, section VIII.F.3.a. The State default intensity verification factor applies to upstream production and pre-production Oil and Natural Gas Annual Emissions Inventory Report (ONGAEIR) methane emissions unless the operator elects to use an operator-specific program pursuant to Section VIII.F.3.b. The state default intensity verification factors are developed to account for any differences between monitored and reported methane emissions from the upstream oil and gas segment. The state default intensity verification factors and operator-specific programs are also used to calculate greenhouse gas intensity. Reports for detailing the development of the state default intensity verification factors are available below:
Reporting year 2025 emissions: Due June 30, 2026
The 2025 ONGAEIR production and pre-production workbooks due June 30, 2026 are subject to the 2025 state default intensity verification factor of 1.164. This factor is applicable to all upstream facilities not implementing an operator-specific program. More details on the development of the 2025 factor are available in the 2025 state default intensity verification factor report.
Reporting year 2026 emissions: Due June 30, 2027
The 2026 state default intensity verification factors are presented by intensity region in Table 1 below. More details on the development of the 2026 factor are available in the 2026 state default intensity verification factor report. The division will offer additional guidance for how the 2026 factor will be applied to the reported emissions prior to the June 30, 2027 submission deadline.
Intensity region | Reporting year 2025 | Reporting year 2026 |
9-County Front Range | 1.164 | 2.2 |
3-County West Slope | 1.164 | 2.7 |
Rest-of-State | 1.164 | 2.5 |
Table 1. Reporting year 2025 and 2026 state default intensity verification factors.
The 9-County Front Range region comprises Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties. The 3-County West Slope region comprises Garfield, Mesa, and Rio Blanco counties. The Rest-of-State region includes all other counties, excluding tribal lands.
Greenhouse gas intensity plans and annual verification reporting
The greenhouse gas intensity program requires all operators to submit greenhouse gas intensity plans and annual greenhouse intensity verification reports, as described in Regulation 7, Part B, Section VIII.G.
The greenhouse gas intensity plan provides the calculation of the prior year intensity and a detailed explanation of the emission reduction strategies to be deployed in order to meet the next applicable intensity target. Intensity plans are due June 30 of the year prior to the intensity target year as described in Regulation 7, Part B, Section VIII.G.3.
The annual greenhouse gas intensity verification report summarizes the implementation of the intensity operator’s greenhouse gas intensity plan during the preceding calendar year. The annual verification report includes calculations of prior-year intensity, new-facility intensity demonstrations, updates on emission-reduction strategy implementation, and a summary of deviations from the plan. Annual verification reports are due on June 30 of the year following the intensity target year, as described in Regulation 7, Part B, Section VIII.G.2.
All intensity operators must submit the intensity plans and annual verifications on division-approved reporting forms by June 30 beginning in 2026.
The division approved guidance documents, templates and submission instructions for the 2026 greenhouse gas intensity plans and 2025 annual verification will be available by March 2026. For more information, visit the Air Quality Control Commission web page.
Public participation opportunities
The division is hosting an online information session on Mar. 18, 2026 at 11 a.m. for oil and gas facility owners and operators. Join to learn about regulatory reporting requirements on the greenhouse gas intensity plan, annual verification form, and development of the state default intensity verification factors.
Register for the information session.
For more opportunities to join upcoming public participation opportunities, view our web page.
News releases
July 20, 2023: Colorado adopts first-of-its-kind measures to verify greenhouse gas emissions from certain oil and gas sites
Contact us
Questions? Email cdphe_apcd_ei@state.co.us with "GHG intensity verification" in the subject line.
Stay informed. Subscribe to the oil and gas air emissions regulatory information email list.