Dear Editor,
In Gunnison and Chaffee Counties, each new season brings us glaring reminders of the changing climate. Whether it’s record-sized wildfires, less snowpack, decreasing stream flows or altered growing seasons– we see human-caused changes to the climate happening, and they’re happening fast.
There aren’t enough politicians who understand that climate change is stretching us to our limits, which is why we’re grateful for Senator Kerry Donovan’s courageous support of SB 200, Reduce Greenhouse Gases Increase Environmental Justice. Rural Colorado is lucky to have her defending our best interests. SB 200 has now been rolled into HB 1266, Environmental Justice Disproportionate Impacted Community, which pursues many of the same goals.
This past January, Governor Polis released his Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Roadmap, an important step in addressing climate change in our state. But it quickly became clear that Polis’ roadmap needs teeth — actions that are measurable, enforceable, and equitable. This is why we support HB21- 1266, because we believe that to decrease pollution, you need to increase justice in the communities most impacted by its harms and hold polluters accountable.
As members of Tri-State Generation & Transmission, we are proud ratepayers to our local electric cooperative. We are hopeful and excited by Tri-State’s recent climate goals, but we want legislation that ensures these goals will be met.
As amendments are made to HB 1266 in the Senate, we want utilities to be held to their word through enforceable measures, and to check them on coal imports from Wyoming and Arizona, guaranteeing emissions reductions from electricity being imported from out-of-state and consumed by Coloradans. We hope to see Senator Kerry Donovan continue to support these measures boldly, and protect our future!
Signed
Frank Stern, Gunnison County
Susan Greiner, Chaffee County
Jeff Delaney, Gunnison County
Sandy Long, Chaffee County
Terri Lukas, Chaffee County
Sonda Donovan, Gunnison County
Kent Wood, Chaffee County
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