The Vol 40 No Spring 2020 The 2019 People’s Lobby Trip was our biggest ever But already, more people have registered for the 2020 trip on February 24 A look at the 2020 legislative session by Jeriel Clark Political & Organizing Director The 2020 Legislative Session is off and running and it looks to be a busy one Just a few days into the 2020 Colorado legislative session, the Western Colorado Alliance Legislative Committee was already tracking over 30 bills that center around our mission Now, more than 450 bills have been introduced and some of the “big agenda” ones are still yet to come These include some hot topic issues like public option insurance, paid family medical WESTERN COLORADO ALLIANCE PO BOX 1931 GRAND JUNCTION CO 81502 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED leave for employees, lowering the cost of higher education, and of course the continual need to fix and maintain Colorado roads Whether or not lawmakers can overcome the deep partisan divides that marked the 2019 session to make progress on these critical issues remains to be seen Amidst the partisan bickering and 2020 election theatrics impacting the Colorado Capitol, our Alliance is focusing on what makes a healthy, self-reliant, and livable future for everyone This session, we are prioritizing bills centered on clean energy and sustainable resource responsibility Our top priorities include: House Bill 20-1064 which would enact a 2020 study through the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to take a close look at Community Choice Energy Community Choice Energy (CCE) is a concept currently implemented in numerous states, under which local municipalities could choose to purchase electricity at wholesale through a supplier other than the local investor-owned electric utility CCE has the potential to enable communities to purchase renewable energy and save money without disrupting the local utility’s NON-PROFIT ORG U.S POSTAGE PAID GRAND JUNCTION, CO PERMIT NO 134 current status as sole supplier of transmission, distribution, and customer service functions House Bills 20-1162 and 20-1163 take on reduction and responsibility through polystyrene and single-use plastics bans and management Well thought-out, and with exemptions for hospitals, assisted living facilities, etc., these two bills would implement a statewide reduction for singleuse items across Colorado HB20-1162 would prohibit restaurants from sending patrons home with polystyrene boxes for leftovers, and HB20-1163 Continued on page Inside Stirring pots for 40 years A new chapter for homegrown prosperity A big win for clean air in Western Colorado Loving our public lands! Members in the spotlight West Slope Youth Vote success 2020 Special Legislative Guide 4-5 Goodbyes and hellos Western Colorado Alliance The Clarion Stirring pots for 40 years by Steve Allerton Alliance President I suppose we’ve all had experiences where we’ve felt out of bounds I don’t mean stepping out of bounds while playing a game, or slicing a golf ball across two fairways I mean taking an action, or stating an opinion that is looked upon with disfavor During my years in human services and education, there were times I spoke against the status quo and the authority that held the power and suffered some consequences No jail time, but I’d stirred a pot which was not to be stirred In its now 40-year history, Western Colorado Alliance (formerly Western Colorado Congress) has stirred some pots and continues to so While being looked upon with disfavor by some, we’ve numerous allies, members, and supporters that stir the pot right along with us toward the creation of healthy, just, and self-reliant communities That’s what makes this 40-year journey so amazing Given my relatively short time with our Alliance, I am no expert on the organization’s history, nor can I claim to have a real sense of what the journey of the “founding humans” was like I can say that in 2020, we’ll continue to stir those pots and perhaps travel out of bounds a bit, having firmed up our foundation with renewed mission and vision statements, a platform that guides our work based on our values, a growing professional staff, and committed board members and members alike It will also be a year in which we celebrate 40 years of inspired community organizing And with that, I leave you with a poem written by Founding Human Chuck Worley, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 98: Permission to publish “Out of Bounds” was graciously provided by Speak4Peace Publishing Learn more about their efforts to support “living with conscience” at speak4peace.com Spring 2020 “Out of Bounds” (from Poems in Prison 1945-1947 by a Conscientious Objector to the Good War) You who by the grace of law go free walk by spongy springs and load your lungs up with the smell of things for me And when dawn yawns and silver noises dribble from her wings gather up such nuggets as free fall You who are still in luck dig your itching fingers deep in muck and wash your eyes with all that’s fresh and green Summer finds me out of bounds this year… but conscience clean A look at the 2020 legislative session: Up and coming bills Continued from page would prohibit stores and restaurants, from providing single-use plastic carry-out bags, stirrers and straws On the heels of the TriState Generation announcement to shut the Craig Station Power Plant and its corresponding mines and its pending impact on Western Slope economies (see HOMEGROWN PROSPERITY, page 6), we are also closely tracking three rural economic development bills: House Bill 20-1003 proposes to expand partner eligibility under the Rural Jump-Start Zone Act, which provides a tax nudge to incentivize new businesses and new hires to open their doors in distressed communities Senate Bill 20-054, the Rural Development Grant Program, to help incubate early-stage small businesses with goods and export potential in rural areas Senate Bill 20-002 shores up funding for Rural Economic Development Initiative grants, one of Colorado’s most powerful tools for economic diversification in small towns All of these bills are being championed by Western Slope lawmakers and have bipartisan support While these bills may be overlooked on a statewide level, they can make all the difference toward strengthening our communities in Western Colorado We owe a huge thanks Our Alliance’s Staff brings people together to build grassroots power through community organizing and leadership development Our Alliance’s vision for the future is one where engaged local voices are leading communities across Western Colorado that are healthy, just and self-reliant 2481 Commerce Blvd., PO Box 1931 Grand Junction CO 81502 (970) 256-7650 Emily Hornback, Executive Director Jeriel Clark, Political & Organizing Director Stefanie Harville, Operations & Finance Director Joel Dyar, Community Organizer Troy Redding, Community Organizer Arn McConnell, Communications Coordinator WesternColoradoAlliance.org info@WesternColoradoAlliance.org to our legislators representing us on the Western Slope for joining forces for their constituents West Slope Youth Vote And we can’t forget our West Slope Youth Vote interns, who, between voter registration events at their local high schools, have also turned their attention toward the Capitol They’re impressed with several bills that could have a direct impact on West Slope youth and want to encourage their legislators to support them These bills include ones which would expand excused absences in school to cover mental health days (SB20-014), a grant program to support shelters focused on youth experiencing homelessness (HB20-1122), and an anti-discrimination policy to protect students from in-school and out-of-school discrimination based on cultural and race traits, including hairstyles (HB20-1048) It can be kind of hard to see from way over here, but all eyes should be on the Colorado Capitol And if you’d like a closer look, and maybe a conversation or two, join us for our 2020 People’s Lobby Trip! We’re heading to Denver on Monday, February 24 and will be back on February 26 Members of Western Colorado Alliance, including some of our West Slope Youth Vote interns, will meet with our legislators to discuss all these bills and more If you’re interested in attending, send me an email at jeriel@ westerncoloradoalliance.org Our Alliance’s Board of Directors Officers Steve Allerton, President, Grand Junction Kevin Kuns, Vice President, Montrose Andreya Krieves, Secretary, Grand Junction At-large Directors Gabriel Otero, Grand Junction Rodger Steen, Steamboat Springs We are actively seeking a candidate for Board Treasurer If you or someone you know might be interested, please contact us! Local Affiliate Directors Grand Valley Citizens Alliance Betsy Leonard, Battlement Mesa Ridgway-Ouray Community Council Al Lowande, Ridgway Uncompahgre Valley Alliance Kevin Kuns, Montrose Western Colorado Alliance in Mesa County Andreya Krieves, Grand Junction Director Emeritus Peggy Rawlins, Grand Junction Spring 2020 Western Colorado Alliance The Clarion A big win for clean air in Western Colorado by Troy Redding Community Organizer The Alliance secured an important win with the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) last December New rules were adopted during the last AQCC rulemaking process which will help to protect air quality here in Western Colorado Coloradans will now be able to look forward to a future where the oil and gas industry will be required to enhance their Leak Detection And Repair (LDAR) practices and apply these practices statewide from both storage tanks and low producing wells To ensure that methane producers adhere to these new standards they will be required to submit an annual report of the emissions being released from their facilities Western Colorado Alliance is especially proud of our work to strengthen air quality monitoring and repair requirements of oil and gas facilities near businesses, homes, and schools The Alliance along with our partners at Grand Valley Citizens Alliance (GVCA) and the League of Oil and Gas Impacted Coloradans (LOGIC) proposed that the Due to these new rules oil AQCC implement stricter air and gas operators will at quality monitoring requirea minimum be required to ments and repair standards for perform inspections on their oil and gas operations located infrastructure twice a year These within 1000 feet of these areas rules will close what is known as the 90-day permitting loophole In December, the AQCC This loophole allowed oil and chose to accept our proposal gas operators to begin their According to the AQCC, one of drilling and hydraulic fracturing the reasons why they chose to operations before the operators adopt these increased protections obtained the required permits was because Western Coloradans testified overwhelmingly in They avoided these permits support of these new standards because they placed limits on the amount of air pollution Hundreds of residents on the operators were allowed to emit Western Slope raised their voices Additionally, these new rules will to protect our air quality These further reduce harmful emissions people wrote letters and came to Literally years of work on the part of Battlement Concerned Citizens helped pave the way for this victory meetings where they provided both verbal and written testimony urging the AQCC to strengthen the current regulations and to apply them statewide Without these voices we wouldn’t have been successful in our efforts to increase monitoring near homes and schools It is because we wielded our collective power that Coloradans will now be able to breathe a little bit easier The Alliance wants to thank all of our allies, supporters, and members for making these changes possible Without your contributions we wouldn’t be able to carry out our work and while we have certainly made progress our work isn’t finished We look forward to working with all of you again during the coming months as we participate in the upcoming Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) rulemakings and the next AQCC rulemaking Thank you again for your support and we will look forward to seeing you during the next rulemaking! “We were looking at a future of skiing on rocks.” by Joel Dyar Community Organizer In a time of national climate dereliction, Patrick Church is a radical optimist A New Hampshire native turned Crested Butte high country adventurer, Patrick’s first winter in Gunnison County saw record-low snowfalls “It was worse than any of the local life-timers could remember,” Patrick recalls “We were looking at a future of skiing on rocks.” Patrick dove headlong into local organizing that culminated with the Crested Butte Town Council joining dozens of winter sports communities across North America in declaring a climate emergency His work helped bring 20 stakeholders together to craft a Climate Action Plan for the town, including a target for 100% clean energy by 2030 In December, 175 locals came out for the plan’s official ratification winter sports enthusiasts, climate researchers, businesses and policymakers together to discuss climate change threats in the High Country and what locals could Members in the Spotlight “It’s clear that our civilization was going to have to tackle this energy transition issue at some stage, at some point,” Patrick says “We’re just lucky to be the ones alive when that happened We’re the ones who get to figure this out.” Not satisfied with the town’s historic announcement, Patrick and friends packed the house for a Gunnison County Climate Action Conference at Western Colorado University The conference brought He ended January with a training of 30 volunteers and was working to help enroll customers in a new community solar garden offered by Gunnison County Electric Association — until the program was overwhelmed with demand and sold out “This is all about love for these mountains,” Patrick says “This is the least we can for them.” Western Colorado Alliance The Clarion Jeff Bridges (D, SD26) Chris Hansen (D, SD31) Jerry Sonnenberg (R, SD1) John Cooke (R, SD13) Owen Hill (R, SD10) Tammy Story (D, SD16) Don Coram (R, SD6) Dennis Hisey (R, SD2) Jack Tate (R, SD27) Larry Crowder (R, SD35) Chris Holbert (R, SD30) Nancy Todd (D, SD28) (MINORITY LEADER) (PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE) Pete Lee (D, SD11) Angela Williams (D, SD33) Paul Lundeen (R, SD9) Faith Winter (D, SD24) Vicki Marble (R, SD23) Rob Woodward (R, SD15) Dominick Moreno (D, SD21) Rachel Zenzinger (D, SD19) 303-866-4846 jeff.bridges.senate@state.co.us (303) 866-4451 john.cooke.senate@state.co.us (303) 866-4884 don.coram.senate@state.co.us (303) 866-4875 larry.crowder.senate@state.co.us Jessie Danielson (D, SD20) (303) 866-4856 jessie.danielson.senate@state.co.us Kerry Donovan (D, SD5) (303) 866-4871 kerry.donovan.senate@state.co.us Stephen Fenberg (D, SD18) (303) 866-4872 stephen.fenberg.senate@state.co.us (MAJORITY LEADER) Rhonda Fields (D, SD29) (303) 866-4879 rhonda.fields.senate@state.co.us Mike Foote (D, SD17) 303-866-5291 mike.foote.senate@state.co.us Leroy Garcia (D, SD3) (303) 866-4878 leroy.garcia.senate@state.co.us (PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE) Bob Gardner (R, SD12) (303) 866-4880 bob.gardner.senate@state.co.us Joann Ginal (R, SD14) (303) 866-4861 chris.hansen.senate@state.co.us (303) 866-4862 julie.gonzales.senate@state.co.us (303) 866-4883 jack.tate.senate@state.co.us (303) 866-4881 chris.holbert.senate@state.co.us (303) 866-3432 nancy.todd.senate@state.co.us 303-866-6364 pete.lee.senate@state.co.us (303) 866-4864 angela.williams.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4835 paul.lundeen.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4863 faith.winter.senate@state.co.us (303) 866-4876 vicki.marble.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4853 rob.woodward.senate@state.co.us (303) 866-4857 dominick.moreno.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4859 brittany.pettersen.senate@ state.co.us Kevin Priola (R, SD25) (303) 866-4855 kpriola@gmail.com Bob Rankin (R, SD8) 303-866-5292 bob.rankin.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4852 robert.rodriguez.senate@ state.co.us Julie Gonzales (D, SD34) 303-866-4873 tammy.story.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4877 dennis.hisey.senate@state.co.us Robert Rodriguez (D, SD32) 303-866-4841 joann.ginal@yahoo.com (303) 866-6360 SenatorSonnenberg@gmail.com (303) 866-2737 owen.hill.senate@state.co.us Brittany Pettersen (D, SD22) Ray Scott (R, SD7) (303) 866-3077 ray.scott.senate@state.co.us Note: Contact information is from Jim Smallwood (R, SD4) Colorado’s legislative website which can be found at www.leg (303) 866-4869 state.co.us The information is SenatorSmallwood@gmail.com accurate as of January, 2020 This website is also a good source for the current status and language of proposed bills = LEADERSHIP = WESTERN COLORADO LAWMAKER Western Colorado Senate Districts (303) 866-4840 SenatorRachelZ@gmail.com Senate Committees Agriculture & Natural Resources Donovan, Chair; Danielson, Vice-Chair; Coram, Rodriguez, Sonnenberg Appropriations Zenzinger, Chair; Moreno, Vice-Chair; Foote, Gardner, Gonzales, Hansen, Hisey, Rankin, Rodriguez, Woodward Business, Labor & Technology Williams, Chair; Danielson, Vice-Chair; Priola, Story, Tate Gov Jared Polis (D) 136 State Capitol Denver, CO 80203-1792 www.colorado.gov/governor (303) 866-2471 Front Desk (303) 866-2885 Constituent Services If you’re interested in taking a deeper dive into Colorado politics, sign up for Western Colorado Alliance’s Legislative Committee! Email our Political Director Jeriel Clark at jeriel@westerncoloradoalliance org to learn details! For more info, visit: www.congress.gov DISTRICT 35 SENATOR KERRY DONOVAN (D) DON CORAM (R) RAY SCOTT (R) BOB RANKIN (R) LARRY CROWDER (R) Spring 2020 BROUGHT TO YOU BY Education Todd, Chair; Story, Vice-Chair; Bridges, Hill, Lundeen Local Government Ginal, Chair; Williams, Vice-Chair; Bridges, Coram, Crowder Finance Gonzales, Chair; Lee, Vice-Chair; Hansen, Lundeen, Tate, Todd, Woodward Health & Human Services Fields, Chair; Winter Vice-Chair; Crowder, Ginal, Smallwood Judiciary Lee, Chair; Gonzales, Vice-Chair; Cooke, Gardner, Rodriguez State, Military & Veteran Affairs Foote, Chair; Fields, Vice-Chair; Hansen, Marble, Sonnenberg Transportation & Energy Winter, Chair; Donovan, Vice-Chair; Foote, Hisey, Scott Federal Contacts Pres Donald Trump (R) The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500 Switchboard: (202) 456-1414 Comments (202) 456-1111 www.whitehouse.gov @realDonaldTrump @POTUS U.S Sen Cory Gardner (R) 354 Russell Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-5941 Fax: (202) 224-6524 http://www.gardner.senate.gov 400 Rood Avenue, Suite 220 Grand Junction CO 81501 Phone: (970) 245-9553 @SenCoryGardner U.S Sen Michael Bennet (D) U.S Rep Scott Tipton (R, D3) 261 Russell Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-5852 Fax: (202) 228-5097 http://bennet.senate.gov 218 Cannon House Office Bldg Washington, DC 20515-0603 Phone: (202) 225-4761 Fax: (202) 226-9669 http://tipton.house.gov 225 North 5th St., Suite 511 Grand Junction , CO 81501 Ph: (970) 241-6631 225 North 5th St., Suite 702 Grand Junction, CO 81501 Phone: (970) 241-2499 Fax: (970) 241-3053 @SenBennetCO @RepTipton Western Colorado Alliance The Clarion Spring 2020 Tim Geitner (R, Dist 19) Julie McCluskie (D, Dist 61) Marc Snider (D, Dist 18) 303-866-2952 Julie.mccluskie.house@state.co.us 303-866-2932 marc.snyder.house@state.co.us S Gonzales-Gutierrez (D, Dist 4) Hugh McKean (R, Dist 51) Matt Soper (R, Dist 54) Matt Gray (D, Dist 33) Barbara McLachlan (D, Dist 59) Tom Sullivan (D, Dist 37) Leslie Herod (D, Dist 8) Jovan Melton (D, Dist 41) Kerry Tipper (D, Dist 28) Richard Holtorf (R, Dist 64) Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D, 30) Brianna Titone (D, Dist 27) Edie Hooton (D, Dist 10) Kyle Mullica (D, Dist 34 Alex Valdez (D, Dist 5) Stephen Humphrey (R, Dist 48) Patrick Neville (R, Dist 45) Donald Valdez (D, Dist 62) 303-866-2924 tim.geitner.house@state.co.us 303-866-2954 serena.gonzales-gutierrez.house @state.co.us (303) 866-4667 matt@matthewgray.us (303) 866-2959 leslie.herod.house@state.co.us 303-866-2398 (no email) (303) 866-2915 edie.hooton.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2943 rephumphrey48@yahoo.com (303) 866-2947 hugh.mckean.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2914 barbara.mclachlan.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2919 jovan.melton.house@state.co.us 303-866-2583 matthew.soper.house@state.co.us 303-866-5510 tom.sullivan.house@state.co.us 303-866-2939 kerry.tipper.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2945 303-866-2962 dafna.michealson.jenet.house@state.co.us brianna.titone.house@state.co.us 303-866-2931 kyle.mullica.house@state.co.us (303) 866-5523 patrick.neville.house@state.co.us 303-866-2925 alex.valdez.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2916 donald.valdez.house@state.co.us (MINORITY LEADER) House Committees Appropriations Esgar, Chair; McCluskie, Vice-Chair; Bird, Bockenfeld, Coleman, Kennedy, Kraft-Tharp, Pelton, Ransom, Rich Business Affairs & Labor Kraft-Tharp, Chair; Coleman, Vice-Chair; Arndt, Bird, Duran, McKean, Sandridge, Snyder, Sullivan, Van Winkle, Williams Education McLachlan, Chair; Buentello, Vice-Chair; Baisley, Buck, Buckner, Coleman, Cutter, Exum, Geitner, Larson, McCluskie, Jenet, Wilson Energy & Environment Jackson, Chair; Hooton, ViceChair; Froelich, Geitner, Kipp, Landgraf, Liston, Saine, Sirota, A Valdez, Weissman Jeni Arndt (D, Dist 53) (303) 866-2917 jeni.arndt.house@state.co.us Finance Herod, Chair; Bird, Vice-Chair; Benavidez, Bockenfeld, Gray, Kraft-Tharp, Rich, Sandridge, Snyder, Sullivan Health & Insurance Lontine, Chair; Caraveo, Vice-Chair; Baisley, Buckner, Jackson, Mullica, Soper, Tipper, Titone, Will Judiciary Weissman, Chair; Herod, ViceChair; Benavidez, Bockenfeld, Carver, Gonzales-Gutierrez, Roberts, Soper, Tipper Public Health Care & Human Services Singer, Chair; Jenet, Vice-Chair; Caraveo, Cutter, GonzalesGutierrez, Kipp, Landgraf, Larson, Liston, Mullica, Pelton Yadira Caraveo (D, Dist 31) 303-866-2918 yadira.caraveo.house@state.co.us Rural Affairs & Agriculture Roberts, Chair; Valdez, ViceChair; Arndt, Buentello, Catlin, Holtorf, McCluskie, Pelton, Titone, Will, Young State, Veterans & Military Affairs Kennedy, Chair; Lewis, ViceChair; Duran, Humphrey, Kipp, Lontine, Rich, Sirota, Williams Transportation & Local Government Gray, Chair; Exum, Vice-Chair; Carver, Catlin, Froelich, Hooton, Humphrey, Lewis, Melton, A Valdez, D Valdez, Wilson Dominique Jackson (D, Dist 42) (303) 866-3911 dominique.jackson.house@state.co.us Terri Carver (R, Dist 20) Sonya Jaquez Lewis (D, Dist 12) KC Becker (D, Dist 13) Marc Catlin (R, Dist 58) Chris Kennedy (D, Dist 23) James Coleman (D, Dist 7) Cathy Kipp (D, Dist 52) (303) 866-2578 kcbecker.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2191 terri.carver.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2955 marc.catlin.house@state.co.us Kevin Van Winkle (R, Dist.43) Kim Ransom (R, Dist 44) Mike Weissman (D, Dist 36) Janice Rich (R, Dist 55) Perry Will (R, Dist 57) Dylan Roberts (D, Dist 26) Dave Williams (R, Dist 15) Lori Saine (R, Dist 63) (303) 866-2906 lori.saine.house@state.co.us James Wilson (R, Dist 60) Shane Sandridge (R, Dist 14) Mary Young (D, Dist 50) 303-866-3706 rod.pelton.house@state.co.us Mark Baisley (R, Dist 39) 303-866-2935 mark.baisley.house@state.co.us Rod Pelton (R, Dist 65) 303-866-2920 sonya.jaquez.lewis.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2933 kim.ransom.house@state.co.us 303-866-3068 janice.rich.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2923 dylan.roberts.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2965 shane.sandridge.house@state.co.us Jonathan Singer (D, Dist 11) (303) 866-2780 jonathan.singer.house@state.co.us Emily Sirota (D, Dist 9) 303-866-2910 emily.sirota.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2936 kevin.vanwinkle.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2942 mike.weissman.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2949 perry.will.house@state.co.us (303) 866-5525 dave.williams.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2747 RepresentativeWilson@gmail.com (303) 866-2929 mary.young.house@state.co.us NOTE: As of time of publication, no replacement had yet been chosen for Chris Hansen’s seat in District Hansen left when he was chosen to replace Lois Court as state senator Court left for health reasons Western Colorado House Districts (303) 866-2951 chris.kennedy.house@state.co.us (SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE) Susan Beckman (R, Dist 38) (303) 866-2953 susan.beckman.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2909 james.coleman.house@state.co.us 303-866-4569 cathy.kipp.house@state.co.us Adrienne Benavidez (D, Dist 32) Lisa Cutter (D, Dist 25) Tracy Kraft-Tharp (D, Dist 29) Shannon Bird (D, Dist 35) Monica Duran (D, Dist 24) Lois Landgraf (R, Dist 21) Rod Bockenfeld (R, Dist 56) Daneya Esgar (D, Dist 46) Colin Larson (R, Dist 22) Perry Buck (R, Dist 49) Tony Exum (D, Dist 17) Kimmi Lewis (R, Dist 64) Janet Buckner (D, Dist 40) Meg Froelich (D, Dist 3) Larry Liston (R, Dist 16) (303) 866-2964 303-866-2582 adrienne.benavidez.house@state.co.us lisa.cutter.house@state.co.us 303-866-2843 shannon.bird.house@state.co.us 303-866-2912 rod.bockenfeld.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2907 perrybuck49@gmail.com (303) 866-2944 janet.buckner.house@state.co.us 303-866-5522 monica.duran.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2968 daneya.esgar.house@state.co.us 303-866-3069 tony.exum.house@state.co.us 303-866-2921 meg.froelich.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2950 reptracy29@gmail.com (303) 866-2946 lois.landgraf.house@state.co.us 303-866-2927 colin.larson.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2398 kimmi.lewis.house@state.co.us (303) 866-2937 larry.liston.house@state.co.us (SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE) Bri Buentello (D, Dist 47) 303-866-2905 bri.buentello.house@state.co.us Alec Garnett (D, Dist 2) (303) 866-2911 alec.garnett.house@state.co.us (MAJORITY LEADER) Susan Lontine (D, Dist 1) (303) 866-2966 susan.lontine.house@state.co.us DIST REP 13 KC BECKER (D) 26 DYLAN ROBERTS (D) 54 MATT SOPER (R) 55 JANICE RICH (R) 57 PERRY WILL (R) DIST REP 58 MARC CATLIN (R) 59 BARBARA MCLACHLAN (D) 61 JULIE MCCLUSKIE (D) 62 DONALD VALDEZ (D) Western Colorado Alliance The Clarion Spring 2020 A new chapter for homegrown prosperity by Joel Dyar Community Organizer America was built on coal Colorado too Coal provided the cheap, abundant fuel that powered our country’s industrialization, peaking at nearly 900,000 mining jobs in 1923 and providing half of the US electricity generation supply as late as 2005 For Western Colorado communities like Craig, Gunnison, Hayden, Meeker, Naturita, Nucla, and Paonia, coal was the multi-generational anchor that built entire towns and families The U.S government invested heavily in coal’s success, with direct subsidies and tax breaks worth $70 billion Today, coal is no longer cheap Eleven coal companies have declared bankruptcy since the Trump election, including some of the nation’s largest Coal production has fallen 42% since its historic peak in 2008, with jobs falling by nearly half to 53,000 nationwide and 1,300 in Colorado In the last decade, operators in the United States closed 550 coal-fired generation facilities worth a stunning 110GW of output In 2020, coal will supply just 20% of the nation’s electricity — but nearly half of Colorado’s facilities, including most natural gas A full switch from coal-fired power to new wind and solar is estimated to offer a savings of $78 billion in the US and a stunning $389 billion in China Grid-scale ion battery storage technologies, capable of banking power between sunny days and windy nights, are already beating some natural gas peaker facilities on cost in Colorado These historic changes came home to roost this January as Tri-State Generation & Transmission, owner of several coal stations that power rural Colorado’s electric co-ops, announced that it could no longer postpone its own transition After years of member co-op and investor pressure for cheaper sources, Tri-State set dates for the retirement of its Craig coal stations worth 1.3 GW of power Craig Station closes in 2025 and Stations and by 2030 The nearby Trapper mine winds down between 2026 and 2030, with the Colowyo mine closing around 2030 Nearly 700 workers are directly affected Communities will lose anchor jobs, consumer spending, and tax revenue The race is on to help these workers and their families have a future This can feel like only the latest chapter in a tired story of boom and bust As former Nucla United Mine Workers’ Association President Roger Carver wrote in the Daily Sentinel: “In the long term, it’s clear that our region has a bad habit of looking for easy money instead of building prosperity here at home Too many elected officials were happy to help big companies vacuum up profits from our resources while giving workers like me and communities like these nothing to stand on when the party was over.” Western Colorado Alliance is excited to announce the 2020 Western Colorado Homegrown Prosperity Summit! Coming this Spring! Western Colorado Alliance is determined to change that story Our region now has the chance to take active ownership of its economic destiny, beginning with a future for post-coal communities like Craig, Naturita, Nucla and Paonia It’ll take a renaissance of local democracy to achieve the unprecedented collaboration between workers, local officials, economic developers, business and policymakers required to get this right To us, that sounds like just the kind of collaborative, catalytic organizing that our Alliance has cultivated for 40 years Western Colorado Alliance is excited to announce the 2020 Western Colorado Homegrown Prosperity Summit as our region answers that call The first of its kind in Western Colorado, the summit will bring hundreds of regional attendees together this spring to trade strategies, craft solutions, and adopt a policy agenda Trailblazing local community leaders will join regional experts in economics and policy for in-depth workshop tracks on the biggest challenges and opportunities we face It will be a gathering worthy of this moment in history Look for a summit date and details coming soon — we think you’ll want to be in the room as a better future for healthy, just, and self-reliant communities is written in Western Colorado Cries of a “war on coal” from some politicians may have provided a cathartic channel for community anger as one town after another was confronted with the loss of hundreds of livelihoods and their proud histories This weaponization of recent lay-offs failed, however, to own up to the market and technology forces at work in coal’s decline — or to provide leadership for entire regions in desperate need of a future Solar costs are just 12% of what they were a decade ago Wind costs are 31% Both technologies have a long costcurve distance yet to travel This year, virtually all new utility-scale wind power will be less expensive than fossil fuel The race is on for solutions in places like Craig, Colorado (Photo by Jimmy Thomas, licensed under CC BY-SA.) Spring 2020 Western Colorado Alliance The Clarion Loving our Public Lands! This February, our West Slope Youth Vote interns at Olathe High School registered 100% of their senior student body to vote in less than eight hours! Phew! Take a bow, Cesar, Natalia & Cassie! Western Colorado Alliance The Clarion Saying goodbye is hard especially when the people to whom we’re saying goodbye are so enormously special In late 2019, we bid adieu to Kelly Dougherty, our intrepid Membership Coordinator, who moved with her family to pursue new opportunities in Denver And this month, we said farewell to Leah López, our Community Organizer working on public lands and local agriculture, who will soon be farming hemp in the San Luis Valley To say we will miss these two amazing and unique people is just a huge understatement Whether it was Kelly’s sly, dry humor and passion for justice, or Leah’s serene professionalism and genuine compassion, the qualities they brought to their work will be simply impossible to completely replace We miss you both! But saying hello is easy when we’re saying hello to an amazing new Board member like Gabriel Otero! Gabriel joined our Alliance’s Board of Directors in late 2019 He’s a 4th generation Coloradan and grew up on a farm in Fruita He’s worked in congressional and senatorial campaigns He also worked for five years in the oil and gas energy sector Gabriel received his BA in Political Science from Colorado Mesa University Gabriel currently works in conservation on oil and gas development, land management plans, conservation designations, defending National Monuments and bedrock conservation laws across the Colorado Plateau Gabriel, an outdoor enthusiast, loves hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and spending time with family Spring 2020