“We are excited to work with an increasingly pro-conservation Legislature and Gov. Ritter to promote renewable energy and protect our air, water and open space. ”
Will Coyne
Program Director
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With the November 2006 election adding more pro-conservation legislators and a pro-conservation governor for the first time in eight years, Environment Colorado is looking forward to making real progress for Colorado’s environment in the 2007 legislative session.
“The last few years have seen some hard-fought legislative battles for Colorado’s environment,” said Will Coyne, Environment Colorado’s program director. “Unfortunately, many good proposals fell victim to Gov. Owens’ veto. We are excited to work with an increasingly pro-conservation Legislature and Gov. Ritter to promote renewable energy and protect our air, water and open spaces.”
A quick look at Environment Colorado’s priorities for the 2007 legislative session:
Colorado’s New Energy Future
Building on our success in getting more than 70 candidates for the state Legislature to endorse The Plan for Colorado’s New Energy Future, Environment Colorado will work to turn campaign pledges into real results.
Environment Colorado will work this session to implement the key policy planks of The Plan: double the renewable energy standard to 20 percent by 2015; increase energy efficiency 10 percent by 2015; establish a renewable fuels standard of 10 percent; and substantially increase investment in the research, development, and implementation of clean energy technologies. You can read about The Plan on pages 4 and 5.
With so many Coloradans struggling with winter heating costs, we can’t waste any time holding our leaders to their campaign pledges to change our energy course.
Smart growth and transportation
Outside of FasTracks, the voter approved expansion of light rail across the Denver Metro Area, funding for Colorado’s transportation system has been limited in recent years. Gov. Ritter said repeatedly during his campaign that he would work to find more money for transportation investments.
Environment Colorado will work with the new Legislature and Gov. Ritter to ensure that new dollars for transportation are spent wisely—to fix existing highways and expand transit options—not spent on new sprawl-inducing highways.
We will also work to oppose big development projects that target public land, like the former Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range.
Water quality
Environment Colorado will work this winter to increase funding for key water quality enforcement programs. While Colorado still has better water quality than most states, lax enforcement and under-funding of key water quality programs by the Owens administration threatens many Colorado waterways.
Over the last several years an increasing percentage of Colorado’s water has been found unsafe for fishing and swimming.
Environment Colorado will also work to make sure water quality is considered when cities and developers want to move water—by supporting HB 1352. The bill, which was narrowly defeated last year, will be championed again by Rep. Buffy McFadyen.
Air quality
Colorado’s air quality will continue to be a hotly-debated topic in the Colorado Legislature. With new rules being created by the industry-friendly Air Quality Control Commission this fall to regulate mercury emissions and emissions of ozone-causing pollution from oil and gas wells, there will likely be legislation on a number of air quality related issues. |
