Real Results For Colorado's Environment
1. Victories for clean energy
More of Colorado’s energy is coming from clean, homegrown, renewable sources, after our staff and members helped win Amendment 37 and, less than three years later, convinced state leaders to double our clean energy goal to 20 percent by 2020.
2. Transit improved
Environment-friendly transit options, such as light rail, are expanding for Metro Denver commuters, following the 2004 approval of the Environment Colorado-supported FasTracks initiative.
3. National forests protected
More than 4 million acres of Colorado’s most pristine forests are still completely free of logging, mining and new roads, despite Bush administration attempts to open these lands to industry. Our staff and members have fought to keep them protected.
4. Mercury pollution slashed
Colorado’s power plants will slash their mercury emissions by 90 percent over the next decade, a move that will help keep more pregnant women and young children safe from mercury’s neurological effects. Our advocacy helped forge the agreement.
5. Western land sell-off halted
In 2006, the Bush administration attempted to sell over 300,000 acres of public land, including more than 20,000 in Colorado. Environment Colorado mobilized support to beat back this effort and keep our western heritage protected.
6. Action on global warming
Environment Colorado served on Colorado’s Climate Task Force, offering concrete solutions to help combat global warming. We also helped pass legislation that funds research on how Colorado can pursue state carbon caps, use more renewable energy, and store carbon dioxide.
7. Colorado’s air cleaner
We helped pass the Colorado Clean Air Act and won new rules requiring cleaner gasoline and new limits on smog pollution from oil and gas wells.
8. Endangered species defended
After a 2006 attempt to roll back the Endangered Species Act, Environment Colorado worked to uphold the act and protect the habitat that sustains endangered species like the Bald Eagle, Manatee, Gray Wolf and many others.
9. Arctic Refuge saved
Despite the power and influence of the Bush administration and ExxonMobil, Environment Colorado’s broad-based coalition and bipartisan support have stopped Congress from opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling every time it has been proposed.
10. Coal power plant stopped
Our research also helped convince decision-makers to pull the plug on plans for an unnecessary and environmentally unsound new coal-fired power plant in Colorado Springs in 2004.
