 Implementing the Agenda:
The Second Stage of the Project
With Governor Ritter's adoption of the emission-reduction goals recommended by our Climate Action Panel, 69 of the panel's 70 recommendations and the other elements (some overlapping) of the Governor's plan remain to be adopted. Getting those actions implemented is the goal of the second stage of our Colorado Climate Project.
A key document for this implementation stage of our work is our Colorado Climate Scorecard, which shows the implementation status of actions to carry out both the Governor's plan and the recommendations of RMCO's Climate Action Panel. The scorecard will be updated regularly as new actions are taken. To report information on new actions, please email RMCO's Director of Programs, Tom Easley, at easley@rockymountainclimate.org.
For the second stage of the Colorado Climate Project, RMCO set up three initiatives, with a fourth to follow, each focused on a particular type of recommendation. To build on the consensus and personal commitment produced in the first stage of the project, we continue to engage people who worked on the Climate Action Panel and its supporting Policy Work Groups, as well as others, to work on each initiative.
Water Initiative
The Water Initiative focuses on the 14 panel recommendations for action to see that Colorado continues to meet its water needs in the face of possible changes to our snow and water resources. The full text of those recommendations is in the Water Adaptation chapter of the panel's report. A Water Initiative Steering Committee has been appointed and is at work guiding this initiative.
Local Initiative
A Local Initiative focused on the recommendations of the Climate Action Panel for actions by local governments in Colorado. A Local Initiative Steering Committee worked on this initiative, and concluded that the fundamental need to get those recommendations was a statewide effort to support local climate progjrams. That decision lead to the creation of RMCO's Colorado Climate Network, which now has replaced the Local Initiative.
Statewide Initiative
The Statewide Initiative works for implementation of both Governor's Colorado Climate Action Agenda and the recommendations by our blue-ribbon panel for actions by the state government.
A recent immediate focus of these efforts was our work in the Colorado General Assembly in its 2009 Session, during which several bills related to the implementation of Governor Ritter's Action Agenda and of the recommendations of our blue-ribbon panel were considered. RMCO testified in committees and otherwise helped to shape and support those bills. We also followed that legislative action and reported on legislative developments to our partner organizations, the individuals who participated in the Climate Action Panel process, and others. Here is the final legislative update, wrapping up the 2009 session. RMCO helped gain passage of four bills on which it was active, particularly by way of testimony at key committee hearings. For example, Tom Easley, RMCO's Director of Programs, testified in support of Senate Bill 09-39 to clarify that rural electric cooperatives can establish graduated pricing based on electricity consumption, Senate Bill 09-51 expanding a state loan program to include commercial and industrial clean energy improvements, Senate Bill 09-125 to fund Colorado Water Conservation Board water adaptation programs, and Senate Bill 09-094 to create a Transit and Rail Division in the Colorado Department of Transportation, all of which would implement the Governor's agenda and Climate Action Panel recommendations.
Public Initiative
When our funding permits we will launch a Public Initiative will focus on the panel's recommendations for public-education actions and for voluntary actions by businesses and individuals. A steering committee for this initiative has not yet been appointed.
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