Coal Basin Methane Project

Exploring solutions to prevent methane from escaping one of Colorado’s gassiest abandoned coal mines.

There is an urgent need to lower our greenhouse gas emissions and reduce pollution locally and globally. This project could do that, while conserving other values in Coal Basin like recreation and wildlife habitat.

The coal mines above Redstone in Pitkin County once provided jobs and an economic engine to our community. Now abandoned, the mines are venting large amounts of methane into the atmosphere. 


CORE has been collaborating with Delta Brick & Climate Co. to gain more understanding of methane emissions escaping from the mines and explore effective solutions to tackle this challenge. 


In 2023, comprehensive methane release data was successfully collected from various sites throughout Coal Basin, confirming significant amounts of gas escaping into the atmosphere. Mitigating methane emissions at Coal Basin could be one of the most significant efforts toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our communities and propelling us closer to achieving our climate action goals.


The Coal Basin project team will share the results of this data collection and proposed mitigation strategies with key stakeholders and the community at upcoming community outreach events. The data collected from the methane release research and community events will help frame a proposal to the US Forest Service to request approval to move forward with mitigation efforts. 

Community Outreach

Thank you to all those who joined the conversations about Coal Basin!


Stay tuned to view the presentation about the project, including data results and recommended mitigation measures. Feedback collected from outreach events will be taken into consideration as we prepare our proposal to the US Forest Service.


Basalt Community Event

Tuesday, March 26, 2024 | 6-8 p.m.

Basalt Regional Library

14 Midland Ave., Basalt, CO 81621


Redstone Community Event

Thursday, April 4, 2024 | 6-8 p.m.

Church at Redstone

213 Redstone Blvd., Redstone, CO 81623

Methane 101

Methane is a colorless, odorless, and potent greenhouse gas that occurs naturally and is also produced through human activities, such as livestock farming, landfills, and fossil fuel extraction - like coal mining. 


During coal mining activities, methane is released from the coal and surrounding rock strata. Once a mine is closed or abandoned, methane can continue to escape from various portals made during the mining process and natural openings in the earth. 


While methane remains in the atmosphere for a shorter period compared to carbon dioxide, it is far more effective at trapping heat, which leads to global warming and climate change. According to the EPA, methane is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.


Methane emissions can rapidly intensify the greenhouse effect, leading to higher temperatures and causing adverse effects on weather patterns, sea levels, ecosystems, and human health. Reducing methane emissions is essential in the fight against climate change and achieving global sustainability goals.



Project History

  • March 2024 - April 2024 | Community Outreach

    CORE will be hosting two Community Events to present data findings and mitigation options in Basalt and Redstone. 

  • June 2023 - October 2023 | Methane Research at Coal Basin

    The project team conducted research at Coal Basin to learn more about where methane is being released and in what quantities. This information is currently being analyzed and will be presented to the community in early 2024.

  • June 2023 | U.S. National Forest Service Permit Approval

    CORE  received approval for our permit request from the White River National Forest to begin research at Coal Basin. 

  • June 2023 - Final Contract Approval from U.S. Department of Energy

    CORE received the final contract documents from the U.S. Department of Energy to proceed with the project and use the $1.2 million dollars in funding that was awarded in 2021. Funding will be used in phases and in alignment with the criteria to move forward with our research at Coal Basin.

  • March 2022 - May 2023 - Community Outreach

    CORE hosted ten community meetings and hikes in Aspen, Carbondale, and Redstone to engage attendees in discussions about how research could be conducted at Coal Basin. Feedback received from attendees was used to frame the data-gathering phase of the project. 

  • 2021 | CORE awarded $1.2 million to conduct research

    CORE was awarded a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to pursue research on the methane gas release from the discontinued mines at Coal Basin near Redstone, Colorado. 

Our Partners

Delta Brick & Climate Company

The leading organization coordinating research and data collection at Coal Basin. Delta Brick will report their findings to our funders and community throughout the course of the project. 


US Department of Energy

A key funder and supporter of the Coal Basin Methane Project. The US Department of Energy oversees the Methane Emissions Reduction Program, which was created by the Inflation Reduction Act and provides $1.55 billion in funding to improve methane monitoring and reduce methane and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the oil and gas sector.


Atlantic Aviation

CORE’s platinum business sponsor and lead fiscal partner of the Coal Basin Methane Project. 

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