Alliance for Sustainable Colorado Convenes 5th Annual Sustainable Business Legislative Briefing

A record number of attendees packed the Old Supreme Court Chambers today for the 5^th Annual Sustainable Business Legislative Briefing at the State Capitol. 

Organized by Alliance for Sustainable Colorado’s CASBA program (Colorado Alliance of Sustainable Business Associations), the briefing and policy discussion drew more than 150 business and non-profit representatives and state legislators.  The speakers and topics focused on strategies for continuing the growth of Colorado’s New Energy Economy.

“Colorado and the rest of the country are facing unprecedented economic challenges, but our state is well-positioned to lead the country in the development of a New Energy Economy, said Gov. Bill Ritter. “I look forward to seeing the state legislature’s recommendations for long-term, clean energy solutions that address immediate economic challenges.”

Presentations were made by three notable leaders concerned about Colorado’s economic development. 

Ÿ  André Pettigrew, executive director of Denver’s Office of Economic Development, spoke about local government initiatives to create green jobs as part of Denver’s involvement in the Climate Prosperity Project. 

Ÿ  Speaker of the House, Terrance Carroll, described the purpose of the state legislature’s Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth.

Ÿ  Gov. Ritter closed the briefing with his vision of how green jobs and sustainable business practices fit into the new energy economy.

Speaker Terrance Carroll explained, "We want to expand the circle of opportunity for everyone in our state.   One way we can do that is by energizing our economy. We are making targeted investments in new technologies like expanding concentrated solar and high-altitude wind turbines to effectively tap into those 300 days of renewable rays and the gusts that consistently blow across our rolling plains.  I want to make sure that the consumer has the opportunity to choose clean power over coal.  By investing in renewable resources, we are working toward genuine energy independence. We have successfully begun to create a new energy economy:  we have created thousands of new ‘green-collar’ jobs, and there are many more to come."

Representatives from sustainable business associations and individual companies asked questions and offered policy suggestions.  Associations represented included the Boulder Green Building Guild, Colorado Association for Recycling, Colorado Renewable Energy Society, CORE (Connected Organizations for a Responsible Economy), Colorado Solar Energy Industry Association, Greener Denver Business Program, Outdoor Industry Association, Catamount Institute – Pikes Peak Sustainable Business Network, and US Green Building Council – Colorado Chapter.

A sustainable business includes “triple bottom line” measures of its profitability as well as its impacts on the well-being of people and the environment.

“The triple bottom line approach has quickly emerged as a wise and prudent strategy shared by leading businesses,” commented André Pettigrew. “By reducing energy consumption, companies ultimately are generating green savings that make them more competitive and generate new opportunities for employment and innovation.”

“State government has an essential role to play to encourage business development that is profitable for companies and helpful for society while not damaging the environment,” said Janna Six, Alliance for Sustainable Colorado’s CASBA coordinator.  “For example, government investments can stimulate development of infrastructure for clean energy, mass transit, and small businesses.”

Video and details of policy ideas from the briefing will be available at www.casba.info.

The legislative briefing followed Alliance for Sustainable Colorado’s co-hosted event last week — the Green Inaugural Ball, at the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.   The event, chaired by former Vice President, Al Gore, drew national and local environmental leaders, including Van Jones and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

CASBA is Alliance for Sustainable Colorado’s business program to expand sustainable and socially responsible business practices throughout Colorado by facilitating communication and collaboration among sustainable business associations. CASBA is a program of Alliance for Sustainable Colorado. 

About Alliance for Sustainable Colorado
Alliance for Sustainable Colorado works to catalyze the shift to a truly sustainable world by fostering collaboration among nonprofits, businesses, governments, and academia. The Alliance Center at 1536 Wynkoop Street near Union Station, a LEED certified office building, is home to 27 non-profit organizations. To request a tour of the Alliance Center, contact Emily Andrews at eandrews@sustainablecolorado.org

The Alliance has been recognized by several organizations for its leadership in sustainability. Recent awards include; US Green Building Council National Leadership Award for Education by an Organization, Wirth Chair Energy Pioneer Award, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Gold Environmental Leader Award, Colorado Energy Champion issued by the Governor’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation, and the Denver Mayor’s Design Award “It Ain’t Easy Being Green”.