That's the idea behind Environment Colorado. We focus exclusively on protecting Colorado's air, water and open spaces. We speak out and take action at the local, state and national levels to improve the quality of our environment and our lives.

"Oil companies, utilities, big developers . . . their voices are always heard. It’s our mission to offer Coloradans an equally strong and effective voice for our environment." — Matt Baker, Executive Director, Environment Colorado

Our Threatened Environment
With bulldozers tearing up 10 acres of farm and range land an hour, power plants pumping pollution into our skies, and the toxic runoff from mines, factory farms and oil wells flowing freely into our drought-addled streams, hasn’t Colorado’s environment had enough?

And what about the toll all this is taking on our health? Our research indicates that more than 735,000 children live in the shadow of old, coal-fired power plants. Pollution from these plants can cause health effects ranging from asthma attacks to even neonatal death.

Standing Up To Powerful Interests
Coloradans overwhelmingly support strong protections for our environment. Yet decisions about the quality of our air and water and the fate of our dwindling open spaces are all too often shaped by, and made for the benefit of, a small number of industry insiders.

For example, oil and gas companies have been given unprecedented access to private and public lands from the Rockies to the San Juan basin. They’ve rolled a 30- ton thumper truck into the Canyon of the Ancients to shake the ground looking for oil. They’ve extracted methane gas from coal beds, allowing toxic hydrogen sulfide run-off from this process to pollute local waterways, in some cases driving people from their homes.

Ryan DeWald, Environment Colorado Advocate, speaks at a renewable energy news conference outside Xcel Energy’s Zuni generating in some cases driving people from their homes. Photo, Kim Nelson

Tough-Minded Advocacy
To overcome the opposition of powerful special interests, Environment Colorado relies on independent research and tough-minded advocacy.

Developers and highway interests continue to build further and further from our downtown centers, destroying open spaces and creating the worst traffic congestion in the country. Our researchers shine a spotlight on the worst of these development projects, in part by releasing the annual report, “Sprawl of Shame.” In addition, our staff’s persistent advocacy has won victories that include the implementation of the Denver-metro urban growth boundary.

A Focus On Results
We all share the hope that we can restore our environment to health, with clean air to breathe, safe drinking water and clean rivers, and well-protected forests, wetlands and farmland. But getting there means making tangible progress, one victory at a time, for Colorado’s environment.

On issue after issue, Environment Colorado stands up against powerful interests and conducts the kind of research and advocacy that wins real results. Among our victories: we’ve won tougher standards against power plant pollution, we’ve won expansion of light rail transit, and we helped to pass the Colorado Clean Air Act, which played a key role in improving air quality on the front range.

Preserving Colorado’s open spaces against sprawling developments, like this one outside of Golden, is a top priority of Environment Colorado. Photo by John Feilder

Real Results For Colorado's Environment
Being in favor of the environment is a step in the right direction, but it’s not enough. Winning real results that protect our environment requires action.

Standing Up To Developers: Environment Colorado spearheaded a successful campaign to pass an amendment that helped to preserve three million acres of public lands at risk of being developed.

Protecting Public Health: Environment Colorado advocacy led to the passage of the Polluter Prevention Act, which helps industries reduce their use of toxic chemicals.

Cutting Air Pollution: Environment Colorado was a lead group in winning passage of the Colorado Clean Air Act, which led to steep reduction in air pollution from cars, factories and power plants.

Expanding Public Transit: The Legislature approved a proposal allowing the Regional Transportation District to take FasTracks, the largest transit expansion since the Washington, D.C., system was built, to metro-area voters for approval.