http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/blog_rss/environmentcolorado You are invited to our “Change is Coming” to Aspen community meeting!!! Progressive Future and Environment Colorado host a “Change is Coming” to Aspen community meeting on Sunday, December 14th at the Eagles’ Lodge in Aspen, Colorado from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. To RSVP, visit: http://www.environmentcolorado.org/action/other-issues/change-is-coming-aspen The event is part of a national effort by the Barak Obama Campaign for Change where activists are hosting community meetings across Colorado and the U.S. to talk about how to bring change to both Washington and their own communities. Americans voted overwhelmingly for change and a new direction this past election by electing Barak Obama. It was an historic victory, but the election was just the beginning. Join Environment Colorado and Progressive Future to reflect on the elections and create a “plan for change” for how we can reach out to our leaders and community to make change possible. Now is an historic opportunity to make progress, but only if communities work together. FULL EVENT DETAILS When: Sunday, December 14th, 2008 4 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Where: Eagles’ Lodge 700 E Bleeker St Aspen, CO 81611 Hosts: Pam Kiely, Legislative Program Director, Environment Colorado Adam Lioz, Program Director, Progressive Future To RSVP, visit: http://www.environmentcolorado.org/action/other-issues/change-is-coming-aspen   http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/environmentcolorado/CQD2 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/environmentcolorado/CQD2/commentary#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:31:28 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/environmentcolorado/CQD2 Matthew Garrington Matthew Garrington 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQD2/ The Governor rightly puts clean energy at the heart of the economic stimulus plan. While the automotive and finance industries are failing, the renewable energy sector is booming. Colorado has proven that clean energy investments create jobs and jump-start economic development. Renewable energy and energy efficiency have already created over 88,000 jobs in Colorado. With our windy plains and sunny valleys, Colorado can repower America with clean, green electrons from coast to coast. A national investment in clean energy solutions will add billions of dollars and tens of thousands of new jobs to Colorado's economy. With the leadership of Governor Ritter and others, President-elect Obama can enact a bold clean energy plan that turns around our nation's economy. - Matt Garrington, Environment Colorado Environment Colorado's "Repower America" campaign platform includes: *Repower America with 100 percent of its electricity from clean sources such as wind and solar power; *Refuel America by cutting our dependence on oil in half; *Rebuild America with 5 million new jobs; and *Reduce heat-trapping global warming pollution 80 percent by 2050. For a copy of Gov. Bill Ritter's proposals for a national New Energy Economy stimulus package, click here . http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/environmentcolorado/CQDb http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/environmentcolorado/CQDb/commentary#comments Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:54:53 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/environmentcolorado/CQDb Matthew Garrington Matthew Garrington 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQDb/ Denver, CO - Coloradans from across the state overwhelmingly support strong action on clean energy solutions, this according to a new poll released today by the Coalition for Colorado's New Energy future. The coalition of agricultural, labor, and conservation groups commissioned the New York-based Benenson Strategy Group to determine public support for their energy plan. In late September, 802 Coloradans were surveyed across the state. "This poll shows Coloradans support real action on energy issues and The Plan for Colorado's New Energy Future," said Mike Bowman, chairman for the coalition and a farmer from Wray, Colorado. "How we produce and use energy is incredibly important for everything from keeping our farms working to improving national security to cleaning-up our air." http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/environmentcolorado/C2Sr http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/environmentcolorado/C2Sr/commentary#comments Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:15:44 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/environmentcolorado/C2Sr Matthew Garrington Matthew Garrington 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2Sr/ Governor Owens Can Protect Our Air House Bill 1309 is the most important air quality bill to be passed by the General Assembly since the Colorado Clean Air Act of 1992. The bill is headed for the Governor's desk where he can sign it into law or veto it. Simply stated, HB 1309 corrects a flaw in Colorado's statues that bars Colorado from creating stronger clean air protections than the federal government. Under the federal Clean Air Act state must act to clean up the air shed if minimum health based standards are violated. The Clean Air Act set up a process with rewards and sanctions to create incentives for states to direct their largest emitters to clean up their act. The authors of the Clean Air Act recognized the standards were the lowest possible standards and fully expected states to go beyond these standards depending on the local needs of the state or metropolitan area. More importantly, they never expected the federal minimum health standards would be weakened by any administration. Unfortunately in Colorado we have a perfect storm. We have a state law that precludes state health official from using the federal enforcement programs to go beyond minimum federal standards and an administration in Washington D.C. that is aggressively rolling back clean air standards. HB 1309 allows the Colorado Department of Health and Environment and the Air Quality Control Commission to enact stronger protections if the federal government weakens our basic clean air protections. Who could oppose this? Well, anyone with coal plant, oil refinery, steel mill, cement kiln or any other large polluter. The forces opposing HB 1309 represent a who's who of interests who stand to gain from the weakening of clean air standards. I think Representative Matt Knoedler expressed the dirty air arguments against HB 1309 best when he rose on the House floor and said: 'If you don't like mercury, don't eat fish.' I think most people will reject this 'let them eat cake' approach to protecting our air and support HB 1309. Matt Baker Executive Director Environment Colorado Attend a rally on Monday, April 17th in support of HB 1309: Link Rally to protect Colorado's air quality YOU ARE INVITED!!! Join legislators, public health officials, health advocates, religious leaders, local officials, and conservationists for a rally to protect Colorado's air quality. Supporters will be calling on Governor Owens to sign House Bill 06-1309, the most important clean air bill passed in Colorado since the 1992 Colorado Clean Air Act. HB 1309 would allow Colorado to stop federal rollbacks of clean air standards and maintain current protections for air quality. When: Monday, April 17th, 2006, 11:15 a.m. Where: West steps of the state capitol (on Broadway between 14th Ave and Colfax Ave) Speakers: Sen. Dan Grossman Rep. Anne McGihon Curt Huber, American Lung Association of Colorado Gregg Thomas, Denver Department of Environmental Health Isaac Silverman, Environment Colorado http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/environmentcolorado/CLmx http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/environmentcolorado/CLmx/commentary#comments Thu, 13 Apr 2006 18:45:35 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/environmentcolorado/CLmx Matthew Garrington Matthew Garrington 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CLmx/