In the last election, one issue came to the forefront of discussion as the most pressing environmental issue—energy.

To make candidates for office know how important energy reform is to Coloradans, Environment Colorado worked with agricultural and labor groups to put together The Plan for Colorado’s New Energy Future, and called on candidates to endorse The Plan.

The Plan calls to increase our use of renewable energy, biofuels, and energy efficiency to create jobs and opportunities for rural economic development, as well as lower air and global warming pollution and the rush to drill public lands. (See page 4 for a complete breakdown of The Plan.)

We all feel the effects of our dirty and dangerous energy system. Our over-reliance on fossil fuels comes at a high price—we depend on oil from unstable countries. Last year’s skyrocketing oil and gas prices hurt working families.

In Colorado, we’re losing critical wildlife habitat and seeing increased ozone pollution due to ever-increasing drilling. Coal plants continue to be the largest source of global warming pollution.

Environment Colorado knocked on thousands of doors and collected 1,000 postcards to help give Coloradans a more powerful voice on this issue.

All of these factors played into growing support for clean energy, and candidates felt the public’s desire for a new, clean, energy future.

The race for governor is a prime example. Gov. Bill Ritter kicked off his campaign ads with windmills in the background to emphasize his platform of a “new energy economy.”

More than 70 state legislative candidates endorsed The Plan, and more than 50 of these candidates were elected. We also gained support from more than 100 businesses, organizations and clean energy experts.

“If we can deepen support for The Plan, this work will position us to achieve real victories in the state Legislature,” said Environment Colorado’s Matt Baker. “The time is now to put Colorado on a path for a New Energy Future.

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