Blog - Colorado CCL actions and progress

Colorado CCL State Legislature Team

Did you know that Colorado CCL has recently formed a group dedicated to following our state legislature and the climate bills they’re working on? Here's an update on the team’s activities so far, and how you can get involved.

Pathway to climate action in NoCo — SBARs, local leaders, glass, and sustainability

While CCL’s climate advocacy focuses heavily on national action, several Colorado chapters have taken a pathway to local support for national climate legislation by focusing first on local issues and needs. In Greeley, for example, since the onset of the pandemic, CCL’s chapter has grown remarkably and found significant traction in building relationships with local elected officials and government staff and other climate organizations through working on local problems. Led by Mike Weiland, the chapter has identified several areas where there is a need for local advocacy, including sustainability planning and recycling.

A banner year for CCL Colorado

In the seemingly endless rounds of CCL calls to action on the Inflation Reduction Act, we were often reminded that the effort was “a marathon, not a sprint.” For both citizen marathon runners and citizen lobbyists, the key goal is to get over the finish line. And we did just that, helping to pass the largest investment in climate change policy in history, anywhere in the world. Let’s look at actions by Colorado CCL volunteers in 2022 that helped achieve that important milestone.

Colorado Group Leaders move ahead with CCL’s new policy agenda

On hearing in-depth explanations of CCL’s new policy agenda at CCL’s December National Conference, CCL members wrote on a word board: “inspired,” “motivated,” “hopeful,” “excited,” and “energized.” Looking forward to taking this agenda to a divided Congress, CCL’s Senior Director of Government Affairs, Jen Tyler, said “we were built for” this.

Meet Kate Daniel — CCLer with a passion for bringing groups together

Joining a chapter during COVID hasn’t been easy for many. Kate Daniel arrived in Colorado just as the pandemic started and things shut down. But, through Zoom, she found it easy to get involved with the Grand Valley chapter. She soon found ways to contribute her skills, most recently in organizing two phone banking events to turn out the vote in their district. Read on to learn about those successful events, plus other ways Kate contributes to supporting the chapter and CCL’s advocacy. (And her past work in protecting wetlands on the East Coast!)

Growing Climate Solutions Act needs our support in the House

This will be the first substantial U.S. climate bill to pass Congress—if enacted. A surprisingly bipartisan mix of organizations support it: farming, ranch, forest, climate and environmental. Learn what’s in this straightforward bill, where it stands now, and what you can do to help get it passed before the November midterm elections.

What ever happened to the Colorado state resolution on carbon pricing?

Plans in 2022 to introduce a resolution in the State Legislature supporting federal Carbon Fee and Dividend legislation ran awry due to political considerations. But CCL is undaunted, and a new plan is being developed for the 2023 session. Read more to hear what is in store and how you can help.

How the changing climate is impacting children

Children are special, especially when it comes to the impacts of climate change. Their young, growing bodies can be significantly impacted by the effects of fossil fuel related pollution. With summer here, we take a look at the effects of heat and air pollution on our kids.

Our forests and the changing climate

“Now’s a good time to go visit national parks with big trees.” 
—Nate McDowell, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

“This is the beginning of a new ecological state.”
—Camille Stevens-Rumann, Colorado State University

The research is stacking up. Conifer forests throughout the West are not coming back after a wildfire like they have in the past. The culprit: our warming climate. Let’s take a look at Colorado’s forests and what you can do to help.

Local action success story

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association (SDCEA), a cooperative in Central Colorado, was set to implement rate changes that would have discriminated against net metering customers (solar, wind) and disadvantaged low energy users. Sandy Long, group leader for the Chaffee County CCL Chapter, was part of the local advocacy group that quickly formed to oppose the changes. Learn how the group was able to get SDCEA to rescind the rate changes. Net metering is under attack in Colorado and throughout the nation. Get involved with your local utility to promote renewable energy.

Volunteer spotlight on Noah Fulton-Beale

Noah started volunteering with CCL in late 2016, but a few months later his life journey took him in a new direction — he moved to Ukraine where he worked for a tech company. Noah remained very concerned about global heating, so upon return to Boulder in 2021, he reconnected with CCL and set a personal goal of writing at least one Letter to the Editor (LTE) each week. In this interview, Noah shares his LTE writing experience, and lessons learned. Plus how sharing his CCL training helped a Ukrainian colleague get published in the New York Times.

Carbon farming – part 1

Through a variety of agricultural practices, farmers have the power to increase the carbon stored in the land beneath their crops, and remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere. This first of two articles covers carbon farming basics, agricultural incentives to encourage its use, and actions you can take to support this transition.

Turning “political hobbyism” into real action

Inspired by a recent article on Eitan Hersh’s new book, Politics Is for Power — a brilliant condemnation of political hobbyism and a call to arms for well-meaning, well-informed citizens to start actually acting — CCL Volunteers Sandy Long and Jim Hooton discuss their New Year's Resolutions.

How can community leaders best support our work?

The voices of prominent community members, or “grasstops,” can help us move our Members of Congress and develop political will for climate action in our communities. What are the best messages for them to be sending right now?

Colorado CCL had a great 2021 and what's next in 2022

Happy New Year! CCL Colorado volunteers accomplished a great deal in 2021. CCL staff has given us a thoughtful framework to use as we plan to build on those efforts in 2022.

Increasing renewable energy generation at Colorado utilities

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission is reviewing plans from both Xcel Energy and Tri-State Generation for how they will meet requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Xcel has reached a settlement agreement with 14 parties that has attracted some criticism. 

Whether you get your electricity from Xcel or Tri-State, there is still time to write to the PUC to provide public comment on the plans — suggestions follow.

CSU Pueblo reaches net zero efficiency

On-campus efforts, new solar/battery equipment, and an innovative partnership with several companies helped this university take an important step towards a clean energy future.

Carbon pricing resolution coming to Colorado State Legislature; CCL help Is needed

Soon, we'll know where all our state legislators stand on carbon pricing. Two State Representatives from Boulder, Edie Hooton and Judy Amabile, plan to introduce a carbon pricing resolution in the Colorado House of Representatives when the legislature resumes its session in January 2022. Learn more and see how you can help get it passed.