← Solutions Framework Engage & Advocate

Colorado Communities for Climate Action

High Impact Complex Low Cost 3+ Years

Project Overview

Colorado Communities for Climate Action, also known as CC4CA, is a coalition of Colorado communities advocating for stronger climate policy at the state level. CC4CA is active at the Colorado state legislature, as well as in regulatory proceedings such as those at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the entity that regulates electricity rates. Without the resources of a coalition, many local governments are too small to have their voices heard at this level of state government — together, these same local governments have a strong voice that is a force for positive change.

This is especially true in state energy policy, whose political and technical complexity can present a real challenge for small local governments acting alone. Approaching state energy policy as a coalition rather than as an individual town unlocks a larger pool of resources that can be used to hire lawyers and expert consultants. Two examples of CC4CA’s engagement with state energy policy are the “Sunset Provision” and the “Megadocket.”

HB26-1326, known as the Sunset Provision, renews the mandate of the Public Utilities Commission and covers many topics related to its structure and function that can have significant effects for end-users. For example, one section that CC4CA helped remove was a requirement that all PUC members be physically present at proceedings — which would have created a barrier to participation for two commissioners living in mountain communities far from Denver. By ensuring that requirement was removed, CC4CA helped advocate for mountain communities to be represented.

Another area where CC4CA has been active is overseeing Xcel Energy’s Integrated Customer Program filing (ICP), known as the “Megadocket” — a comprehensive proposal to the PUC combining multiple customer programs under one framework, with a combined cost of approximately two billion dollars that Xcel’s customers would pay over time. By being present at proceedings and taking the time to understand their nuances, CC4CA helps protect the interests of its member communities on topics such as electricity rates and greenhouse gas emissions.

Lessons Learned

  • Member Dues System — CC4CA membership and funding operates on recurring membership fees rather than external donors or grants, giving the organization autonomy to act without other entities overseeing its message and decisions.
  • Growth and Replicability of the Coalition Model — Membership, engagement, and support for CC4CA have grown continuously over time despite an unfavorable federal political environment, showing this coalition model could be replicated in other regions.
  • How to Form a Coalition — CC4CA began with roughly half a dozen communities, some acting as seed donors providing initial funding and staff time. The best way to begin is simply to start the conversation with jurisdictions that share similar concerns.
  • Importance of Initial Coalition Design — Early design choices, like the member dues system and letting each jurisdiction choose its own board representative, have continuously shaped CC4CA’s culture and structure as it grows.