Colorado’s New Energy Economy

In November of 2007 Governor Bill Ritter announced Colorado’s first Climate Action Plan with the goal of establishing “clear strategies to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions,” for the purpose of ensuring Colorado's "energy, economic and environmental future," according to a Governors Energy Office GEO press release.

Following the Governor's action plan there have been significant advances toward a new energy economy for Colorado in addressing greenhouse gas emissions, both statewide and at the local level. In addition to advances in renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency through weatherization and certain insulation practices has helped to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

One way in which greenhouse gas emissions are being addressed locally is through the 2009 La Plata Climate Energy Action Plan (CEAP) in response to a US Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. CEAP provides a tangible way in which concerned citizens can get involved in identifying ways "our community, individuals, governments, businesses, and other groups can reduce greenhouse gasses throughout La Plata County."4CORE is currently initiating the creation of a collaborative region-wide strategy to decrease emissions in for Archuleta, Dolores, Montezuma and San Juan Counties.

Currently, 4CORE works to decrease emissions in Southwest Colorado through the CEAP Process in La Plata County, by providing weatherization assistance to low-income households, and through providing information about energy efficiency. Other strategies include community education and outreach as a way to increase local participation, and an incentives and services strategy that reinvests funds into the community and offers individuals a rebate to facilitate effective and sufficient energy services.

To date 4CORE has issued 199 rebates to community members, totaling approximately $135,000.

These programs resulted in 2,730 Metric Tons of Greenhouse Gas Emissions prevented annually. To get a better idea of this quantity, it is equivalent to 125,391 mature trees consuming carbon dioxide each year, or taking 641 cars off the road for one year.

The GEO is a leader in promoting Colorado's New Energy Economy by pushing for the production and manufacturing of clean modern energy technologies. In addition, the GEO currently offers the Insulate Colorado Program for homeowners wishing to make energy efficiency improvements to their existing homes. The GEO partners with local Colorado organizations such as 4CORE to offer rebates directly to qualifying homeowners for the installation of insulation and air sealing measures through the Insulate Colorado program. For more information please visit the Partnership Opportunities Section for an application.

As a student of Environmental Studies interested in the preservation of natural resources, it is my hope that this push for a new energy economy in Colorado will eventually be translated into a shift from excess and shortages to a relationship of social restraint for the purpose of both ecological and economic sustainability and the overall health of people and the landscapes we live in.

Through my experience studying environmental policy and culture, although short, it is my opinion that the support and efforts made by local organizations are vital to the stability and effectiveness of programs and efforts like the Climate Action Plan and the Insulate Colorado Program.

Being apart of the 4CORE team is an exciting opportunity to experience this process first hand and witness change.

About the Author

D. Linnea Decker is interning for 4CORE through the Environmental Studies department at Fort Lewis College. Linnea is a Colorado native living in Montezuma County, and attends Fort Lewis College as a full-time student working on a Bachelor’s of Art degree in English/Writing and Environmental Studies/Policy and Culture. Her interests, not surprisingly, reside in spending as much time in the Colorado wilderness as possible snowshoeing, hiking, biking and writing about nature.