Electricity use by Denver’s marijuana industry dropped 8 percent last year. The change marks the first time that the industry reduced power demand since Denver began tracking it in 2013. In 2018, marijuana businesses represented 3.9 percent of the city’s power use.
As one CEO said: “More efficient operators are still around and continuing to make improvements and running more efficiently.”
One of the criticisms of the legal marijuana industry has been about the amount of energy required to power grow houses. But most agree that as cannabis becomes more mainstream, much of the growth will go back to nature, like the sustainable, organic operation outdoor cannabis farm, Pot Zero, in Eagle County.
Colorado Cannabis Tours is taking interested visitors up to farm throughout September so more people can learn how the owners, Rob and Linda Trotter, use their land and natural resources for a carbon free grow.
There’s no question the cannabis industry is impacting energy use as it goes mainstream. And no one is probably more aware of that than the city of Denver and the growers themselves, who have been working together to improve energy efficiency and lower waste output.
This month, the industry leaders are also throwing a benefit for the Colorado Carbon Fund and pushing for sustainable practices with the first Annual Green Industry Affair, which will include talks and entertainment July 24 at Cervante’s Masterpiece Ballroom.
All ticket and raffle proceeds will benefit the Colorado Carbon Fund.