Press Release: Colorado State Land Board Advances Support for Public Education through Innovative Revenue Generation at July Meeting

Colorado State Land Board Advances Support for Public Education through Innovative Revenue Generation at July Meeting

FORT COLLINS, CO — The Colorado State Land Board held its July public meeting yesterday in Fort Collins following a full day of site tours in Larimer County and a robust roundtable breakfast with county commissioners and regional partners. The two-day engagement reflected the agency’s regular cycle of outreach, site visits, and board decisions—as well as its commitment to stewarding state trust lands with a focus on sustainable agriculture, water, and conservation innovation for the benefit of Colorado public schools.

Board members and staff began with a day-long tour of Northern Colorado trust lands on July 9, including stops at proposed reservoir sites, reforestation areas, and ecosystem service projects. The workshop helped inform future board decisions related to water infrastructure and ecological stewardship—key topics for agriculture and land management in the region.

Thursday morning, the Board convened its public meeting, which began with a productive County Roundtable and Breakfast. Representatives from Arapahoe, Larimer, and Weld Counties participated in the discussion focused on varied topics, including energy development, open space, and challenges related to rapid population growth and a lack of affordable housing. Director Nicole Rosmarino provided a brief overview of the State Land Board that covered the innovative ways that the agency supports public education in the North Central district. 

“Our time in Northern Colorado this week underscored what we value most: collaboration, stewardship, and commitment to the land,” said Director Rosmarino. “From revenue generation across our numerous lines of business, including ecosystem services, grazing leases, and energy production, we’re producing substantial funding for public schools in Colorado. We’re also investing in the future of these lands to ensure their health and productivity.”

At the formal business meeting, the Board approved several actions that continue the agency’s diverse approach to revenue generation:

• Oil, Gas, and Helium Lease Auction - Statewide
  The Board approved the standard tract list for the August oil and gas lease auction. Oil and gas remain the largest source of revenue for the agency’s beneficiaries, generating 70-80% of total revenue over the last 20 years. In fiscal year 2024, oil and gas leasing generated more than $182 million for Colorado’s public schools.
• Solar Garden Lease Application – Prowers County
  The Board approved a lease application from Clay Creek Energy for a solar garden on trust land in southeast Colorado, part of the agency’s broader commitment to energy diversification. Residents of the City of Lamar will purchase the energy this project produces to power approximately 1,500 homes.   
• Qualified Project Developer Approval: AgriCapture, Inc.
  The Board approved AgriCapture, Inc. to join its portfolio of Qualified Project Developers under the agency’s Ecosystem Services Program. This designation allows AgriCapture to propose future biological carbon projects on trust lands, creating new revenue streams for beneficiaries while mitigating climate change and allowing continued agriculture use. 
• Ecosystem Services Investment - Statewide
  The Board approved an I&D Fund investment to advance carbon and biodiversity programming statewide. These initiatives aim to bring voluntary ecosystem markets to state trust lands, generating income while preserving ecological function.
• Board Leasing Agenda - Statewide
  Staff reported 131 lease actions under delegated authority in July, including leases for agriculture, recreation, rights-of-way, and stewardship purposes. This ongoing activity reflects the agency’s wide-ranging impact and partnerships across the state.

Director Rosmarino and Staff also shared updates on recent outreach efforts, including participation in the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association summer meeting and ongoing work to modernize grazing rates in partnership with lessees. The agency’s next Agriculture Roundtable will be a key venue for previewing the proposed methodology, designed to bring transparency and fairness to lease pricing.

“Our conversations this week reinforced the vital roles that lease diversity and innovation play in both our revenue and stewardship mission,” said Board Chair Deborah Froeb. “The Board is deeply grateful to the lessees, county leaders, and partners who help us manage these lands with care and creativity. Their participation in these meetings provides critical context the Commissioners need to make decisions that are in the best interest of our beneficiaries.”
 

###

About the Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners: 

The Colorado State Land Board is a constitutionally created agency that manages a $4.4 billion endowment of assets for the intergenerational benefit of Colorado’s K-12 schoolchildren and public institutions. The agency is the second-largest landowner in Colorado and generates revenue for beneficiaries by leasing three million surface acres and four million subsurface acres for agriculture, grazing, recreation, commercial real estate, rights-of-way, renewable energy, oil, gas, and solid minerals. The agency is entirely self-funded and receives no tax dollars. 

For more information please contact:

Emily Barbo, Colorado State Land Board, 720-854-3330, emily.barbo@state.co.us