Miguel Otárola | Colorado Public Radio

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Miguel Otárola

Climate / Environment Reporter

miguel.otarola@cpr.org

Miguel Otárola is a climate and environment reporter at CPR News.

Professional Background: Miguel joined CPR in 2021 after covering Minneapolis and its suburbs as a reporter for the Star Tribune. Before that, he began his journalism career interning at newspapers across the country, including the Arizona Republic, Seattle Times and Boston Globe. Miguel was also a host of a music show at KFAI 90.3 FM, a community radio station in Minneapolis.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s degree in mass communications from Arizona State University.

Environment
Sweetwater Lake is Colorado’s newest state park
The former ranch in Garfield County at times almost became home to a lakeside hotel and used for bottled water instead.
By Miguel Otárola
Climate Change
Nuclear power is the best way to replace the Pueblo coal plant within this decade, county tells state regulators
The Comanche Generating Station is the state’s largest power plant — and its largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions.
By Miguel Otárola
Energy
Colorado’s newest solar project launches, will provide almost all of the power for Pueblo’s steel mill
The official launch of a massive solar array that will power the steel mill in Pueblo was held Wednesday on top of a hill with a view that framed the array, mill and power station connecting the two.
By Miguel Otárola
Environment
Colorado’s top air quality regulator reassigned after state investigation finds potential conflicts of interest
Colorado’s top air regulator has been reassigned to a new position after a state-backed investigation found potential conflicts of interest with a mining company seeking an air pollution permit.
By Sam Brasch and Miguel Otárola
Climate Change
Last month was the hottest September on record for San Juan Mountains, San Luis Valley
Statewide, it was the third-warmest September in Colorado’s history, tying with September 1998.
By Miguel Otárola
Climate Change
Blame It On The Rain: Monsoon Helped Colorado Avoid Summer Megafires — Though Fire Season Isn’t Over Yet
Despite a worrisome start and historic blazes in other western states, Colorado has evaded the worst predictions for wildfires this summer.
By Miguel Otárola
Environment
State-Ordered Investigation Clears Colorado Air Regulator Of Falsifying Data — But Finds Its Pollution Monitoring Policies ‘Conflicting’
A separate investigation by the EPA is ongoing.
By Miguel Otárola
Environment
The State Says It’s On Track To Reduce Emissions From Electricity. It Is Less Sure About The Transportation And Oil And Gas Sector.
Colorado’s top climate official says cutting transportation emissions — the largest source of greenhouse gases in state — is the “most complicated” piece of the climate roadmap
By Miguel Otárola
Energy
Pueblo’s Comanche Coal Plant Is Closing Earlier Than Expected. Is Its Future With Nuclear, Or Renewables?
Pueblo is losing the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Colorado — and a significant source of local tax revenue. What's next for the plant?
By Miguel Otárola
Environment
BLM Is Removing More Than 700 Horses From Public Lands In Colorado, Citing Exceptional Drought
The Bureau of Land Management has already corralled hundreds of mustangs living in the Sand Wash Basin.
By Miguel Otárola
Environment
Nearly 142,000 Acres Of Public Land In Colorado Are Being Considered For Federal Oil And Gas Leasing
Most of the public land being considered in Colorado is located in Las Animas County.
By Miguel Otárola
Climate Change
During Road Trip, Coloradans Tell Senator Bennet Climate Change Has Overwhelmed Their Communities
“I have never felt more urgent about climate change than I did this summer,” Sen. Bennet said from a family ranch outside of Kremmling. “It is happening right now, it is affecting our health here in Colorado today, it is affecting our economy here.”
By Miguel Otárola
News
‘The Whole Car Went Black:’ What It Was Like Being Trapped In The I-70 Glenwood Canyon Mudslide
“As I progressed through the canyon, the rain just got harder and harder,” Autumn Bair said. "My windshield wipers weren’t keeping up, and that was kind of at the point where I knew I was going to be in trouble.”
By Miguel Otárola
News
Motorists Spent The Night In A Highway Tunnel After Mudslide on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon
More than 100 people were stranded on Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon overnight after mudslides flooded the interstate on Thursday, Colorado Department of Transportation officials said.
By Miguel Otárola
Environment
Bats, Birds And Beavers Could Be Gateway For More Latinos To Get Outdoors
A bat tour was part of Latino Conservation Week, a nationwide initiative to get more Latinos experiencing nature and learning about wildlife.
By Miguel Otárola
Environment
‘Nature Deprived’ Latino Kids Miss Out On Wildlife And Conservation Careers. Upward Bound Could Change That
The program hosted by Colorado Mountain College exposes kids to nature and introduces them to the possibility of careers in wildlife and conservation.
By Miguel Otárola