Sam Brasch | Colorado Public Radio

Sam Brasch

Climate / Environment Reporter

Sam Brasch covers climate and the environment for CPR News. Sam came to CPR in 2015 as the recipient of the organization’s first news fellowship.

Education:
Bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy, Colorado College.

Professional background:
Sam came to Colorado Public Radio in 2015 as the recipient of the organization’s first news fellowship. The year-long position allowed him to hone his journalistic skills working alongside CPR reporters, producers and editors.

Following his fellowship, Sam was awarded an 11-Hour Food and Farming Journalism Fellowship from the University of California Berkeley where we worked with mentors like Michael Pollan to produce a radio documentary on kosher slaughter practices.

Sam rejoined Colorado Public Radio in 2016 as a contract reporter where he filled in for newscasts, reported on the state legislature and supported long-term feature stories and interviews for “Colorado Matters.”

Before his career in broadcast journalism, Sam worked for Modern Farmer Magazine where he wrote articles on goat towers and lambie jammies, and promoted the magazine’s work on social media.

Purplish
Xcel’s winter of discontent
Sky-high utility bills and record corporate profits have many Coloradans — and lawmakers — asking if it’s time to rethink Xcel’s business model.
By Andrew Kenney and Sam Brasch
Environment
Gov. Jared Polis orders ozone crackdown on Colorado’s oil and gas industry
Air quality models show the industry is the largest source of local ozone ingredients along the Front Range.
By Sam Brasch
Environment
A Latino-led group monitored the air near Suncor for more than a year. They found elevated levels of pollution and radioactive particles
The group says the results are clear proof of environmental racism in a community that’s long sought an explanation for higher rates of asthma and heart disease.
By Sam Brasch
Energy
To accelerate the shift to clean energy, Colorado Democrats plan to shower consumers with incentives
Gov. Jared Polis’ proposal includes $800 for an ebike, up to $5,000 for a electric vehicle and 30 percent off electric lawn equipment.
By Sam Brasch and Nathaniel Minor
Climate Change
Vice President Kamala Harris visits Colorado to talk about how federal climate investments could impact the West
From water storage and conservation to replacing lead pipes.
By Sam Brasch
Environment
Keep that pizza box out of the green bin. Colorado’s largest compost processor will no longer accept packaging and paper products
Due to ongoing contamination struggles, A1 Organics is changing what materials it will accept from the many communities it serves along the Front Range. That list includes Denver, Boulder, Lafayette, Louisville, Longmont and Arvada.
By Sam Brasch
Government and Politics
Xcel Energy played a leading role in a stealthy plan to defend natural gas in Colorado
Tax documents show an Xcel Energy executive served as a board member for Coloradans for Energy Access, a group dedicated to battling climate measures.
By Sam Brasch
Environment
Front Range oil and gas emissions are the targets of this planned legislation from state Democrats
The proposal will likely require regulators to prove new drilling wouldn't add to the severe air pollution problem along the Front Range.
By Sam Brasch
Energy
Colorado lawmakers are investigating why your energy bill is so high
Many Colorado families are struggling to pay their heating costs, which have doubled or tripled for some households compared to last year.
By Sam Brasch
Energy
Xcel Energy backs off plans for another gas rate hike in Colorado
The reversal comes as many Xcel customers have seen their monthly energy bills double or triple compared to a year earlier.
By Sam Brasch
Energy
To cut energy bills, Gov. Jared Polis says its time to rethink natural gas
Colorado is reliant on fossil fuels for home heating. To avoid future price spikes, the governor said it’s time for utilities to embrace less volatile energy sources.
By Sam Brasch
Energy
Xcel Energy outlines plan to lower Colorado gas bills amid public outcry over high prices
The announcement comes a week after the company reported record profits for 2022.
By Matt Bloom and Sam Brasch
Energy
It looks like the Suncor shutdown is driving up gas prices
Since Colorado's only refinery went offline, the cost of an average gallon of regular gas has risen about a dollar.
By Sam Brasch
Energy
Two Suncor employees were burned in a flash fire at the Commerce City refinery. That incident and others are raising questions about worker safety
Some industry observers worry a December fire could show the company’s problems with worker safety aren't limited to Canada.
By Sam Brasch
Energy
Benzene pollution could be another consequence of recent malfunctions at Suncor Energy
It’s been a rough few weeks at Colorado’s only oil and gas refinery.
By Sam Brasch
Energy
The Suncor shutdown hasn’t led to big spikes in Colorado fuel prices or air pollution — yet
Colorado’s only refinery is offline after fires and malfunctions that started during December’s cold weather.
By Sam Brasch

Xcel’s winter of discontent

Gov. Jared Polis orders ozone crackdown on Colorado’s oil and gas industry

A Latino-led group monitored the air near Suncor for more than a year. They found elevated levels of pollution and radioactive particles

To accelerate the shift to clean energy, Colorado Democrats plan to shower consumers with incentives

Vice President Kamala Harris visits Colorado to talk about how federal climate investments could impact the West

Keep that pizza box out of the green bin. Colorado’s largest compost processor will no longer accept packaging and paper products

Xcel Energy played a leading role in a stealthy plan to defend natural gas in Colorado

Front Range oil and gas emissions are the targets of this planned legislation from state Democrats

Colorado lawmakers are investigating why your energy bill is so high

Xcel Energy backs off plans for another gas rate hike in Colorado

To cut energy bills, Gov. Jared Polis says its time to rethink natural gas

Xcel Energy outlines plan to lower Colorado gas bills amid public outcry over high prices

It looks like the Suncor shutdown is driving up gas prices

Two Suncor employees were burned in a flash fire at the Commerce City refinery. That incident and others are raising questions about worker safety

Benzene pollution could be another consequence of recent malfunctions at Suncor Energy

The Suncor shutdown hasn’t led to big spikes in Colorado fuel prices or air pollution — yet

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