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 stream health, 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 is 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.

Community Outreach

In the spring of 2024, we hosted presentations in Redstone and Basalt, Colorado, to share our findings from the data collection that took place at Coal Basin in 2023, as well as our recommendations for mitigation moving forward. The feedback collected from our outreach efforts will help frame our application to the US Forest Service to request approval to move forward with mitigation efforts. 

Click the button below to download our presentation slides and scroll down to learn more.

Download Presentation Slides

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.

What's the Big Deal?

Methane contributes to more than 25% of current global warming. Along with other greenhouse gas emissions, its presence in the atmosphere is escalating temperatures, triggering severe and erratic weather patterns. This results in prolonged droughts, rapid wildfires, glacial melt, rising sea levels, and more, reshaping our environment and jeopardizing our future. Since most of the methane is caused by human activity we can reduce it. 


Cutting regional methane emissions by 25% by 2030 could help us meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.


In 2023, methane release data was collected from various sites throughout Coal Basin. From our research, we estimate that 1,950 tons of methane are escaping from Coal Basin each year. That’s equivalent to 36,456 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year or nearly 33% of all the other emission sources in Pitkin County combined.*


*Calculated based on the 2020 Pitkin County Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report & the EPA Greenhouse Gases Equivalencies Calculator.


Taking Action

The Coal Basin project team estimates that we can mitigate 20% of the methane emissions being released from Coal Basin through a few different techniques. We believe that these efforts will bring the highest return on investment with the least amount of impact on the environment and community. Our recommendations include: 


  • Installing and maintaining a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) near the Dutch Creek #1 Mine. 
  • Exploring mitigation options for Dutch Creek #2 Mine.
  • Manufacturing water as a by-product of mitigating methane emissions at the Dutch Creek #1 Mine.
  • Experimenting with bioremediation at the LS Wood Mine.


We are preparing our proposal for a permit request that we will submit this year to the US Forest Service. The proposal will include a request to capture and mitigate methane at Coal Basin and an outline of our intended goals and efforts based on data collection and researched mitigation options. 


You can support the project and take action on climate change by:



  • Becoming familiar with the project. Review our FAQs below and reach out with comments and questions. 
  • Sharing your voice. Reach out to CORE, local elected officials, and your peer networks like local climate organizations with your comments. Once CORE submits our proposal to the US Forest Service, you can share your thoughts with them, as well. 
  • Donate to CORE. We estimate that the project at Coal Basin will cost more than $6 million to implement and maintain. Support the project with a financial contribution.
  • Take action in your community. CORE is taking bold steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Roaring Fork Valley. Contact us and we’ll help you find easy solutions to reduce energy consumption close to home.


Frequently Asked Questions

Coming soon.

Project History

  • April 2024 - June 2024 - USFS Application Preparation

    CORE is drafting its proposal to submit to the USFS for approval to begin mitigation efforts at Coal Basin.

  • March 2024 - April 2024 | Community Outreach

    CORE hosted two community events in Basalt and Redstone, Colorado. We presented data findings and methane mitigation options. 

  • 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.


Atlantic Aviation

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

Questions? I am here to help.

The Coal Basin Methane Project is sponsored by:

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