, , , , ,

STATEMENT: Build Back Better passes the U.S. House

STATEMENT: Build Back Better passes the U.S. House

All eyes turn to the U.S. Senate where Bennet, Hickenlooper have fought for climate provisions in the bill

 

DENVER — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act. Representatives Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, and Ed Perlmutter voted in support.

Conservation Colorado deputy director Jessica Goad released the following statement in response:

“The Build Back Better Act is the transformative climate and environmental justice bill that Coloradans support and that our country needs. It will put the U.S. on the path to cutting our climate pollution in half by 2030 and invest directly in communities of color that are on the front lines of the climate crisis — all while creating millions of good-paying union jobs and saving people money on their energy bills. The U.S. Senate should act quickly to pass the Build Back Better Act and send it to President Biden’s desk. Colorado cannot wait any longer.”

###

/por
, , , , , , ,

Conservation Colorado releases 2021 Legislative Scorecard

Conservation Colorado’s 2021 legislative scorecard highlights state legislative conservation victories and the elected officials who made them possible.

Leer más
/por
, , ,

Dónde se posiciona Conservation Colorado en la boleta electoral de 2020

Es 2020 y lo que está en juego en las elecciones no podría ser mayor.

Está más claro que nunca que el liderazgo importa. Debemos elegir líderes que luchen contra el cambio climático, que valoren la salud de nuestras comunidades y nuestro medio ambiente, y que desafíen las prácticas racistas. Puede averiguar qué candidatos ha respaldado Conservation Colorado aquí.

Pero las iniciativas electorales, las políticas que usted, como votante, puede decidir, también son fundamentales para el futuro de nuestro estado. Este año, Conservation Colorado recomienda las siguientes posiciones en las boletas electorales de las elecciones generales (vea más detalles sobre por qué a continuación):

 

Medidas estatales

🚫 [EN CONTRA] Iniciativa 76

✅ [A FAVOR] Proposición 113

[NEUTRAL] Proposición 114

🚫 [EN CONTRA] Proposición 115

🚫 [ EN CONTRA] Proposición 116

🚫 [EN CONTRA] Proposición 117

✅ [A FAVOR] Proposición 118

Medidas locales

✅ [A FAVOR] Denver 2A: Sí a 2A Climate Action Now (Acción Climática ahora)

✅ [A FAVOR] Distrito del río Colorado: Sí en 7A

✅ [A FAVOR] Distrito del río St. Vrain: 7A

Aquí hay más detalles sobre las medidas electorales sobre las que hemos tomado posiciones, en el orden en que aparecerán en su papeleta.

 

🚫 [EN CONTRA] Iniciativa #76: Cualificación de ciudadanía de los votantes

Nos oponemos firmemente a esta iniciativa, que es puramente una táctica de mensajería para energizar a los votantes antiinmigrantes en las elecciones de 2020 y representa una clara amenaza de supresión de votantes en el futuro. ¡El voto accesible es vital para la salud de nuestra democracia y para lograr que candidatos a favor de la conservación ocupen el cargo!

 

✅ [A FAVOR] Proposición 113: Voto popular nacional

En 2019, Colorado aprobó una legislación firmada por el gobernador para unirse al pacto interestatal del Voto Popular Nacional (NPV). Luego de su aprobación, una coalición reunió firmas para colocar un “referéndum con veto” en la boleta, lo que marca la primera vez desde 1932 que Colorado tendrá un referéndum con veto en la boleta. ¡Unirse al pacto NPV es un paso importante para garantizar una democracia que funcione para todos!

 

[NEUTRAL] Proposición 114: Reintroducción del lobo

Los lobos grises eran nativos de Colorado y el regreso de esta especie icónica a nuestro estado beneficia al medio ambiente de Colorado. Conservation Colorado apoya la restauración de los lobos en todo Colorado, y la reintroducción puede acelerar la restauración.

 

Sin embargo, dadas nuestras prioridades de conservación de la tierra y el agua de larga data en el oeste de Colorado y nuestro trabajo con aliados rurales para lograrlas, nos mantendremos neutrales en la Proposición # 114.

 

Una vez aprobada, trabajaremos con el Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Parques y Vida Silvestre de Colorado, así como con las comunidades afectadas, para desarrollar el plan de reintroducción y manejo requerido para crear un futuro viable y autosuficiente para los lobos en Colorado. Recomendamos encarecidamente a la legislatura que proporcione fondos suficientes tanto para los programas de manejo de pastizales como para compensar a los productores de ganado por las pérdidas que se ha demostrado que son causadas por los lobos.

 

🚫 [EN CONTRA] Propuesta 115: Prohibir los abortos tardíos

Esta medida de votación intencionalmente confusa prohibiría el aborto más adelante en el embarazo, sin excepciones por motivos de salud o circunstancias individuales. Los defensores de esta medida electoral han dicho abiertamente que quieren obligar a una mujer a llevar un embarazo a término, incluso en casos de violación, riesgos para la salud de la mujer o un diagnóstico fetal letal. Este es un tema importante de salud pública y equidad racial.

 

🚫 [EN CONTRA] Proposición 116: Reducir el impuesto estatal sobre la renta

🚫 [EN CONTRA] Proposición 117: Restringir el uso de fondos empresariales

Se necesita dinero para hacer un buen trabajo con el medio ambiente. Cada año, las agencias estatales clave que protegen nuestro estilo de vida en Colorado, incluido el Departamento de Salud Pública y Medio Ambiente de Colorado, el Departamento de Recursos Naturales y la Oficina de Energía de Colorado, reciben fondos para realizar su importante trabajo, y esta medida obstaculizaría gravemente el trabajo crítico sobre el clima, el petróleo y el gas, y la protección de nuestras tierras y aguas públicas. Debemos derrotar estas iniciativas dañinas y proteger la recuperación de Colorado de COVID y la crisis económica.

 

✅ [A FAVOR] Proposición 118: Licencia médica y familiar pagada

La pandemia de COVID-19 ha agravado las injusticias sistémicas que enfrentan las comunidades de color de Colorado. Sin acceso a licencias pagadas por enfermedades que pueden ser causadas por la contaminación, y obligadas a elegir entre el trabajo y la familia, las comunidades de primera línea y las comunidades de color se ven particularmente afectadas. Esta crisis de salud pública muestra que la salud pública, la justicia social y la justicia ambiental están inseparablemente relacionadas; esta medida aliviaría al menos un problema sistémico que enfrentan los habitantes de Colorado.

 

✅ [A FAVOR] Denver 2A: Impuesto sobre las ventas climáticas 

La medida aumentaría el impuesto a las ventas en Denver en un 0,25 por ciento, o 2,5 centavos por cada $ 10 que se gastarán en políticas de mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático. Los alimentos, el agua, los suministros médicos, los productos de higiene femenina y el combustible estarían exentos del aumento del impuesto sobre las ventas. El impuesto recaudaría entre $ 36 y 45 millones por año, dependiendo de la cantidad de dinero que los habitantes de Denver gasten en bienes.

El dinero se utilizaría para financiar el Programa de Acción Climática de Denver, específicamente la creación de empleo en tecnologías de energía limpia y renovable, mayores inversiones en energía solar y renovables, programas de justicia climática y ambiental basados en el vecindario, programas de adaptación y resiliencia que ayudan a las comunidades a prepararse para un clima cambiante. , programas y servicios que brindan opciones de transporte económicas y confiables, y mejoras de eficiencia energética.

 

✅ [A FAVOR] Distrito 7A del Río Colorado: Financiamiento de impuestos a la propiedad para el agua

Se trata de una tasa de impuestos aumentada que representa una forma equilibrada y responsable de garantizar que el agua de la ladera occidental (West Slope) esté protegida de las presiones del cambio climático y el rápido crecimiento. El Distrito del Río Colorado tiene planes específicos para usar este dinero en la ladera occidental para proteger el suministro de agua potable, hábitats saludables para peces y vida silvestre, oportunidades de recreación y agua para agricultores y ganaderos. Proporcionaría casi $ 5 millones anuales para apalancar con dólares estatales y federales en proyectos que se han identificado como prioridades importantes para las comunidades locales.

 

✅ [A FAVOR] Distrito 7A del río St. Vrain: Financiamiento de impuestos a la propiedad para el agua

Esta medida electoral aumentaría los impuestos a la propiedad para financiar proyectos de conservación del agua como la calidad del agua, los caudales de los ríos, la conservación de la vida silvestre y las oportunidades recreativas. Este distrito fluvial, que abarca el norte del condado de Boulder, una pequeña parte del sur del condado de Larimer y el oeste del condado de Weld. Esta es la primera vez en los 50 años de historia que el distrito ha pedido a los votantes un aumento de la tasa de impuestos. Una junta voluntaria de residentes locales supervisará los gastos con la extinción / expiración de impuestos en 10 años, y el distrito publicará un informe / auditoría de gasto público anual identificando los diversos usos de los fondos.

/por
, , , , , ,

Fighting Unhealthy Air Pollution in Denver

Community members and UCD students lead the charge in documenting and fighting unhealthy air pollution in Globeville and Elyria-Swansea.

Leer más
/por
, , , , ,

Why We’re Organizing in Colorado’s Central Mountains Region

The Central Mountains Region is rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. And the issues it faces are as diverse as the landscapes it spans.

Leer más
/por
, , , ,

New report highlights cost savings, public health benefits of electric school buses

Application for school districts to apply for funding for clean buses opens October 7th

DENVER – Today, Conservation Colorado, the state’s largest statewide environmental advocacy organization, released Cleaner Air for Denver with Electric School Buses. The new report, by VEIC Research, finds that replacing diesel buses with electric buses will result in more than $100,000 in savings on maintenance and fuel costs and cut harmful pollution.

The report arrives as Colorado school districts prepare to apply to this round of the Regional Air Quality Council’s “Alt Fuels Colorado” Program — which is funded through the multi-million dollar VW settlement with Colorado — opens on October 7th and runs through November 8th. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is administering over $68.7 million in funds as part of the settlement, including $18 million to replace and scrap diesel school buses. 

“Every day, kids across across the state are exposed to harmful air pollution from diesel bus fumes,” said Juan Gallegos, Protégete Program Director for Conservation Colorado. “This new report shows that electric school buses will deliver cleaner air to our communities today as we move toward clean, renewable electricity. And in an era of tight budgets, our leaders will be thrilled to know that they can deliver these benefits while saving money. This report is a call to action for school districts, especially those with majority Latinx students, to take action now and apply for the VW settlement money to replace their bus fleets.” 

Specifically, the report finds that:

  • With each bus replaced, DPS will see a total of $112,353 in fuel and maintenance savings over the lifetime of the vehicle. 
  • And for each bus replaced, there are $13,044 in societal benefits from the reduced air pollution. 
  • Electric buses produce less nitrous oxide (NOx) and greenhouse gases (GHG) than new and existing diesel buses, even when including upstream impacts from electricity generation and diesel refining.
  • Denver’s grid is getting cleaner so electric buses will offer even cleaner operation in the future.

Denver Public Schools (DPS) is the largest and most populated school district in the state and is a leader in sustainability practices. DPS is one of the few school districts that has a climate change plan.

“We support the efforts of the DPS Sustainability Office and Conservation Colorado, and value the findings from this report,” said Albert Samora, Executive Director of DPS Transportation Services. “Our team has begun to look at alternatives to diesel buses and will incorporate the findings of this report as we progress with our analysis and planning for the future.”

“VEIC was thrilled to work with Denver Public Schools, with the support of Conservation Colorado, to identify a pathway toward a cleaner bus fleet,” said Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur, Director of Clean Transportation at VEIC. “Investing VW Settlement dollars in Denver’s school transportation will yield long term benefits for children’s health and we’re excited to see Denver advancing this important work.” 

«Every time we get on a diesel school bus we’re putting our health in jeopardy,” said Joyce Lopis, a DPS student attending Vista Academy High School in Green Valley Ranch. “Transitioning buses to electric will help reduce hospital bills, absent days, and air pollution. We have the right to breathe clean air without putting our health in danger.»

###

/por
, , , , , ,

5 Benefits of Colorado’s New Zero Emission Vehicle Program

Just last week, Colorado’s AQCC voted to adopt a Zero Emission Vehicle standard which will bring help Coloradans breathe easier and bring more EVs to CO. 

Leer más
/por
, , , ,

Conservation groups herald Gov. Polis’ executive order to protect wildlife; habitats

DENVER — Governor Jared Polis today announced an executive order to protect iconic Colorado wildlife and the landscapes they call home, aimed at conserving western landscapes and big game species for future generations. Gov. Polis’ order means Colorado will prioritize, coordinate and focus on protecting the traditional migration corridors of Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and moose.

Specifically, the executive order directs:

  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to compile a status report of wildlife migration and associated science by the end of the calendar year;
  • Colorado Department of Natural Resources to identify policy, regulatory or legislative opportunities to ensure the ongoing conservation of seasonal habitat and migration corridors;
  • CPW to incorporate the importance of migration corridors into public education and outreach efforts; and,
  • Colorado Department of Transportation to enable safe wildlife passage and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.

The order will remain in effect until May 1, 2023 unless modified or rescinded prior to that date.

Conservation groups released the following statements in response:

“The health of our wild spaces and wildlife are a measure of the health of our state. Governor Polis campaigned on a pledge to ‘keep Colorado wild.’ Today’s executive order is a first step in delivering on that promise to ensure that Colorado remains wild for future generations.”

– Kelly Nordini, executive director, Conservation Colorado

“Colorado’s wildlife are a key part of our state’s heritage and our outdoor way of life. This executive order will help Colorado balance our state’s rapid growth with the increasing need to safeguard our wildlife by helping to keep their habitats and corridors protected and connected. We applaud Governor Polis for taking action and look forward to continued partnership to enact this measure.”

– Rachael Hamby, Western lands policy analyst, Western Resource Advocates

“These wild places are vital for birds to thrive, taking cover in the winter and stopping over as they migrate. The protections that Governor Polis has set in motion through this Order will benefit many species and set important standards throughout the state.”

– Nada Culver, Vice President for Public Lands, National Audubon Society

«The Colorado Sierra Club applauds the Governor for taking bold action to protect wildlife and our Colorado heritage. Thanks to Governor Polis, Colorado is taking key steps to better understand and protect the historical migration pathways of the animals.»

– Jim Alexee, director, Colorado Sierra Club

«We humans share this beautiful state with the wildlife, plants, insects, and birds that are part of nature. The efforts of Governor Polis to protect the wildlife and their habitats through the designation and maintenance of wildlife corridors will enhance the quality of life for us all. These corridors will ensure that future generations will experience the rich diversity of animal life that we do.»

– Sherry Schenk, Public Lands Committee member, Western Colorado Alliance

«Colorado’s leadership in advocating for protection of wildlife corridors is more important than ever before . In southwest Colorado, the most critical wildlife corridor for lynx in the state is at risk from a massive real estate development atop Wolf Creek Pass. We look forward to working with state agencies to make the Governor’s vision a reality.»

– Mark Pearson, executive director, San Juan Citizens Alliance

###

/por
, , ,

Colorado Clean Car Advocates Celebrate Vote to Adopt Statewide Zero Emission Vehicle Standards

Denver, CO – Today, following a vote by Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commissioners to adopt a statewide Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) standard, organizations and businesses working to save energy, cut carbon and clean the air we breathe, lauded the vote and what a ZEV standard means for the future of Colorado. 

The new ZEV standard will reduce harmful tailpipe pollution, protect our health and climate, and save Coloradans money. By requiring auto makers to build and deliver an increasing number of electric (or zero emission) vehicles to Colorado, the standard will increase the availability of new electric vehicle models and help accelerate the clean vehicle market in the state. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment estimated that the rule will prevent more than 3 million tons of climate pollution while saving Coloradans more than a billion dollars through 2030. 

Colorado is the first state in a decade, and the 11th state overall, to adopt the ZEV standard. Governor Polis issued an executive order in January directing the Air Quality Control Commission to consider taking this step. Today’s vote concludes the process.

“Increased adoption of electric vehicles is a win for clean air, climate action, and our Colorado way of life,” said Kelly Nordini, executive director of Conservation Colorado. “Today’s vote means Coloradans will have many more choices for electric vehicles and moves Colorado closer to reclaiming our title as a conservation leader for the West and the nation.”

“Colorado is plugging into electric vehicles in a big way,” said Travis Madsen, Transportation Program Director at the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project. “It’s a smart choice. We will save billions of dollars while cleaning our air and protecting our climate. We look forward to working with automakers — who supported Colorado’s adoption of this standard — to accelerate electric transportation in additional states.” 

“Today’s vote to adopt the ZEV program is a big step towards reducing transportation pollution for Coloradans across the state, which is a triple win for our health, our climate, and our wallets. We applaud the AQCC and Governor Polis for making Colorado the first Mountain West state to adopt a ZEV program,” said Emily Gedeon, the Conservation Program Director of the Colorado Sierra Club. “We are closely tracking the automakers’ agreement to make sure that it doesn’t slow down progress on bringing electric vehicles to our smoggy state. Our communities deserve mobility options that don’t pollute the places we live and play in. Automakers must now deliver on their support for clean cars and uphold their promise to support the authority of Colorado and any other state to adopt a ZEV program.” 

“Unhealthy air days are all too common and completely unacceptable. By adopting the Zero Emission Vehicle program we are taking big steps to cut air pollution from the tailpipes of vehicles and quicken our transition to a cleaner, electric-powered transportation system.” – Danny Katz, Director at CoPIRG (Colorado Public Interest Research Group).  

“As the Trump administration moves to roll back federal clean car standards, Colorado’s adoption of a ZEV standard is an essential step forward.” said Simon Mui, Deputy Director of the Clean Vehicles and Fuels Group at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Colorado and other states must step up to reduce carbon emissions that threaten public health and contribute to climate change. That’s why we’ll continue working at the state level to make clean cars accessible and affordable, in Colorado and beyond.”

“With today’s vote, Colorado joins the growing coalition of states positioned to reap the public health and  economic benefits of the rapid transition to a cleaner transportation sector with zero-emitting vehicles. That automakers for the first time expressly support Colorado’s adoption of the ZEV program is further evidence of this transition. Coloradans will see cost savings at the pump, cleaner air, and a safer climate. EDF applauds the move and looks forward to continued progress to ensure Colorado meets its climate goals.” – Alice Henderson, Attorney, Environmental Defense Fund

“Colorado’s economic future will be driven by the clean energy economy with today’s vote, “ said Susan Nedell, Mountain West Advocate for E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs). “Adopting a ZEV standard launches the state into a top destination for new cleantech investment and expansion while saving Coloradans on fuel and maintenance, protecting the state’s vital outdoor recreation and tourism industries, and creating thousands of new jobs across energy storage and clean vehicles.”

###

Contacts:

Garrett Garner-Wells, Conservation Colorado, 303-605-3483, garrett@conservationco.org 

Travis Madsen, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, 720-937-2609, tmadsen@swenergy.org

Emily Gedeon, Sierra Club, emily.gedeon@sierraclub.org, 720-308-6055

Nadia Perl, Natural Resources Defense Council, 510-928-1717, nperl@nrdc.org

/por
,

Conservation Colorado Supports Bipartisan Transportation Funding Bill

Senate President Kevin Grantham and House Speaker Crisanta Duran this evening announced H.B. 1242, a bill to fund transportation in Colorado. Pete Maysmith, Executive Director of Conservation Colorado, stated:

We are pleased to see Speaker Duran and President Grantham working together to develop legislation to address our long-standing transportation needs. While we’re still analyzing the details of the bill, we are encouraged by the significant amount of dedicated funding to multimodal transportation as well as provisions giving local governments the freedom and choice to spend money on these options.

As the second-fastest growing state in the nation, we must invest in modern transportation options, especially those that are designed to move people, not just cars. Coloradans across the state deserve a transportation system that reflects the future.

More information about multimodal options:

  • Dozens of local officials, from both sides of the aisle and from rural and urban communities, sent a letter to leadership last week urging “significant dedicated funding for multimodal transportation options.”
  • Multimodal options are critical to generating the public support needed to pass a measure should it come before voters. Recent polling from the Colorado Contractors Association found that more than 70 percent of voters say they are more likely to support a measure when told that it includes funding dedicated to multimodal options.
  • Multimodal options are severely underfunded (a recent study found Colorado is ranked 29th among states in per capita funding for transit, investing just one-twentieth of the national average).
/por