WCC has identified some top priorities for the 2017 state legislative session – here are the highlights: Gasfield justice Local Government Liable Fracking Ban Oil and Gas Moratorium (HB 1124): WCC opposed this bill at the start of the session so we’re happy to report it’s dead! HB 1124 would have penalized any local government that banned or enacted a moratorium of oil and gas development by holding it liable for the value of the mineral rights. WCC is continuing to work with legislative sponsors on another bill that would better protect our children from drilling and fracking operations near schools. We have played a leading role in developing this common-sense health and safety measure, which would close a disturbing loophole in state regulations. Once the bill is introduced in the House, it will get an official title and number. WCC supports this bill as this year’s top legislative priority. NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID GRAND JUNCTION, CO PERMIT NO. 134 WESTERN COLORADO CONGRESS PO BOX 1931 GRAND JUNCTION CO 81502 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED New methane rule at risk ........... 2 Smile and say “Organize” ............. 2 Proposed wastewater injection well reined in ........................................... 3 Build power for a civic solstice .... 3 Colorado State House and Senate directories .......................... 4 Retooling the “multi-tool” ............. 5 Picking up the PACE ..................... 6 Jeriel back on staff as community organizer ......................................... 7 Community center raised as election issue .................................. 7 WCC supports Days of Action ...8 VOLUME 37 NUMBER 1 SPRING 2017 Clarion The Western Colorado Congress Inside By Emily Hornback, Organizer A record number of WCC members participated in our People’s Lobby Trip to Denver at the end of February – which was a triumph by many measures! While some of the 19 participants were experienced citizen lobbyists, 10 were first-timers from Mesa County. WCC sponsors the annual excursion not only to advocate for specific bills, but also to shed light on the legislative process and help folks understand the important role they can play in government. WCC’s community organizers are there to lend support and training, and Sol Malick, our legislative liaison in Denver, is on hand to make introductions and provide current information. Because our team was so large, we split into two groups in order to meet with as many legislators as possible. In the morning, one group went on the Senate floor at the invitation of Sen. Kerry Donovan (D- 5), and the other went to the House floor as the guests of Reps. Millie Hamner (D-61) and Diane Mitsch Bush (D-26). We also had individual meetings with Western Slope Representatives Mitsch Bush, Dan Thurlow (R-55), Marc Catlin (R-58), Barbara McLachlan (D-59) and Millie Hamner (D-61), as well as Senator Don Coram (R-6). Leslie Robinson and Rodger Steen, members of WCC’s Oil & Gas Committee, also met with the Air Quality Control Division to discuss the implementation of the new 2013 air quality regulations for oil and gas development in Colorado. Our lobbyists spoke at length with legislators about the bills detailed in the sidebar at right. Continued on page 4 Members and staff participated in this year’s People’s Lobby Trip to Denver in late February. Left:WCC members enjoyed their time on the House floor as guests of Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush and Rep. Millie Hamner. Pictured from left to right:Tyler McDermott, Kierra Havens, Donnamarie, Rep. Mitsch Bush, Rebecca Mashburn, Jay Mashburn, Carson Anderson, Cazz Davis, McKayla Anderson. Below:WCC’s legislative liaison Sol Malick suppresses a laugh during a meeting between Rep. Barbara McLachlan (D-59) and WCC members. Photos by Jeriel Brammeier. Up close and personal with the state legislature Our time spent on the House floor demystified the entire political process for me. It was eye-opening that our elected officials are just people who can be influenced by us. –Cazz Davis, People’s Lobby Trip participant A recurring theme was economic development on the Western Slope – specifically, how we can support traditional industries like farming and ranching (via bills promoting industrial hemp) and new business opportunities (via broadband bills). We also discussed energy efficiency for low-income households. A special thanks to Kathleen and Xenti Colucci for supporting the trip by offering us a place to spend our two nights in Denver. Much better than a motel! 2017 legislative priorities
Transcript
WCC has identified some top priorities for the 2017 state legislative session – here are the highlights:
Gasfield justiceLocal Government Liable
Fracking Ban Oil and Gas Moratorium (HB 1124): WCC opposed this bill at the start of the session so we’re happy to report it’s dead! HB 1124 would have penalized any local government that banned or enacted a moratorium of oil and gas development by holding it liable for the value of the mineral rights.
WCC is continuing to work with legislative sponsors on another bill that would better protect our children from drilling and fracking operations near schools. We have played a leading role in developing this common-sense health and safety measure, which would close a disturbing loophole in state regulations. Once the bill is introduced in the House, it will get an official title and number. WCC supports this bill as this year’s top legislative priority.
NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE PAID
GRAND JUNCTION, CO PERMIT NO. 134
WESTERN COLORADO CONGRESSPO BOX 1931GRAND JUNCTION CO 81502
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
New methane rule at risk ...........2
Smile and say “Organize” .............2
Proposed wastewater injection well reined in ...........................................3
Build power for a civic solstice ....3
Colorado State House and Senate directories ..........................4
Retooling the “multi-tool” .............5
Picking up the PACE .....................6
Jeriel back on staff as community organizer .........................................7
Community center raised as election issue ..................................7
WCC supports Days of Action ...8
VOLUME 37 NUMBER 1 SPRING 2017
ClarionThe Western Colorado Congress
Inside
By Emily Hornback, Organizer
A record number of WCC members participated in our People’s Lobby Trip to Denver at the end of February – which was a triumph by many measures! While some of the 19 participants were experienced citizen lobbyists, 10 were first-timers from Mesa County.
WCC sponsors the annual excursion not only to advocate for specific bills, but also to shed light on the legislative process and help folks understand the important role they can play in government. WCC’s community organizers are there
to lend support and training, and Sol Malick, our legislative liaison in Denver, is on hand to make introductions and provide current information.
Because our team was so large, we split into two groups in order to meet with as many legislators as possible. In the morning, one group went on the Senate floor at the invitation of Sen. Kerry Donovan (D-5), and the other went to the House floor as the guests of Reps. Millie Hamner (D-61) and Diane Mitsch Bush (D-26).
We also had individual meetings with Western Slope Representatives Mitsch Bush, Dan Thurlow (R-55), Marc Catlin (R-58), Barbara McLachlan (D-59) and Millie Hamner (D-61), as well as Senator Don Coram (R-6).
Leslie Robinson and Rodger Steen, members of WCC’s Oil & Gas Committee, also met with the Air Quality Control Division to discuss the implementation of the new 2013 air quality regulations for oil and gas development in Colorado.
Our lobbyists spoke at length with legislators about the bills detailed in the sidebar at right.
Continued on page 4
Members and staff participated in this year’s People’s Lobby Trip to Denver in late February.
Left: WCC members enjoyed their time on the House floor as guests of Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush and Rep. Millie Hamner. Pictured from left to right: Tyler McDermott, Kierra Havens, Donnamarie, Rep.
Below: WCC’s legislative liaison Sol Malick suppresses a laugh during a meeting between Rep. Barbara McLachlan (D-59) and WCC
members. Photos by Jeriel Brammeier.
Up close and personal with the state legislature
Our time spent on the House floor demystified the entire political process for me. It was eye-opening that our elected officials are just people who can be influenced by us.
–Cazz Davis, People’s Lobby Trip participant
A recurring theme was economic development on the Western Slope – specifically, how we can support traditional industries like farming and ranching (via bills promoting industrial hemp) and new business opportunities (via broadband bills).
We also discussed energy efficiency for low-income households.
A special thanks to Kathleen and Xenti Colucci for supporting the trip by offering us a place to spend our two nights in Denver. Much better than a motel!
2017 legislative priorities
2 - Western Colorado Congress Clarion • Spring 2017
Grand Junction Office134 N. 6th St., (970) 256-7650Dave Reed, Executive Director
Community group directorsGrand Valley Citizens allianCe
Betsy Leonard, Battlement Mesa
ridGway-Ouray COmmunity COunCil Al Lowande, Ridgway
unCOmpahGre Valley assOCiatiOn Marv Ballantyne, Montrose
wCC Of mesa COunty Andreya Krieves, Grand Junction
WCC Board of Directors
By Rodger Steen, WCC Board member
Right now, a rule that WCC and other citizen organizations across the country have spent years working to pass is in jeopardy. The Bureau of Land Management’s Methane Waste Prevention Rule limits the amount of methane gas from public and tribal oil and gas wells that can be wasted through venting, flaring and leaks.
Congress is attacking this rule using an obscure tool called the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which would unilaterally roll back this updated regulation on fossil fuel corporations.
In early January, the House voted to use the CRA to repeal the BLM methane rule, disregarding years of public process and input from both citizen groups and the industry. Colorado’s Rep. Scott Tipton joined the stampede.
WCC has worked with the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) network for years to finalize this updated methane rule. Now the fate of the rule rests in the Senate, which could
bring this bill to a vote any day. To vote against the BLM
methane rule is to vote against Western Slope interests. This rule is a modest, practical and effective way to limit the amount of methane gas wasted during public and tribal oil and gas production. If the new rule is repealed, oil and gas leasing could again be managed by 37-year-old, outdated rules.
The wasted gas is owned by the citizens of this country and is managed by the BLM for the public good. When it is wasted, the oil and gas companies pay no royalties on it and our country receives no revenue from it. WCC and its allies collected the endorsement of 61 small business owners from the Western Slope who were opposed to rolling back the methane rule.
“The BLM’s methane rule makes good business sense,” states a letter from these small business owners to Senators Cory Gardner and Michael Bennet. “We recognize that the BLM’s oil and gas program is an important economic contributor to our national economy…[but] without the BLM’s rule, more than
$330 million worth of natural gas is wasted each year.”
Reducing the amount of methane gas released into the atmosphere would also result in cleaner air and decrease the industry’s contribution to global warming.
Everything is wrong about wasting this natural resource; it could be efficiently captured and sold and the royalties could be returned to the citizens. Nothing is right about wasting it.
The fate of this rule now rests in the hands of the Senate. We call on Sens. Gardner and Bennet to make a decision that will protect our publicly owned resources and our air quality.
The Western Organization of Resource Councils hosted a fly-in to Washington DC in early February. WCC member Karen Sjoberg of Grand Junction was part of the team that met with nine
senators in two days. Their aim was to build opposition to the effort to roll back
the BLM’s new methane waste rules using the Congressional Review Act.
Photo by Sara Kendall, WORC’s Washington Office Director.
US Congress threatens to overturn methane rule If you haven't already called to
urge your Senators to support the BLM’s Methane Waste Prevention
Rule, please do so today!
• Sen. Cory Gardner at (303) 391-5777 or (202) 224-5941
• Sen. Michael Bennet at (303) 455-7600 or (202) 224-5852
In the photo at right, WCC member Deb Allerton took a turn in front of the TV camera during a session at the Principles of Community Organizing (POCO) training held in Grand Junction in mid-February. Brandon Thompson, a reporter with KREX-TV, added more than a touch of realism to the role-playing exercise.
POCO covers the basics of leadership, fundraising, organizational development, and community organizing. This hands-on training is the cornerstone of the Western Organization of Resource Council’s curriculum for grassroots leadership development.
“This is one of the best trainings I’ve been to in a long, long time!” said WCC member Elizabeth Howard.
WORC offers POCO twice a year. To learn more about the next training to be held in July in Billings, MT, visit www.worc.org.
Smile for the camera and say “Organize!”
Spring 2017 • Western Colorado Congress Clarion - 3
By Emily Hornback, WCC Organizer
After years of battling with oil and gas companies, Battlement Concerned Citizens (BCC) were encouraged in early February when Battlement Mesa Company withdrew its proposal to create a wastewater injection well zone in the community.
As originally proposed to the Garfield County Planning & Zoning Commission, this new zone would have cleared the way for Ursa Resources, which has been developing 53 natural gas wells inside the community, to build an injection well within several hundred feet of the community’s drinking water supply.
Under mounting resistance spearheaded by BCC, the applicants feared a complete rejection of the proposal. In early February, they asked the planning commission for a continuance of its meeting so they could make adjustments to the proposal and resubmit it for future discussion.
The revised application, which the planning commission considered at it's March 8 meeting, cut the zone area in half and completely removed the water intake area from consideration.
The commission approved the proposal on a 5-2 vote with several conditions. In addition, new language stipulates the zone will only contain one injection well on one state-approved natural gas pad within the new zoning area.
The proposal must now be heard before the Garfield Board of County Commissioners for final approval.
It's still one well too manyBCC a committee of WCC’s
community group Grand Valley Citizens Alliance (GVCA), has made it clear in its comments to Garfield County that the group will not accept injection wells anywhere in the PUD boundaries and are prepared to defend that position before the BOCC.
“Even people in support of natural gas development know that injection wells and wastewater disposal are dangerous,” said Leslie Robinson, chair of the GVCA. “A line must be drawn somewhere and toxic wastewater injection wells don’t belong in neighborhoods. It was clear Ursa had crossed that line when they tried to put it so close to the drinking water supply.”
Although we were able to protect Battlement Mesa’s drinking water, the issue of oil and gas wastewater remains an issue across the Western Slope. As with oil and gas drilling and production, many activities associated with wastewater handling and disposal are considered a “use by right,” subject to little or no land use planning review. There are currently hundreds of wastewater storage pits and injection wells across Northwest Colorado. (See article at right.)
This is problematic because wastewater disposal is not an issue of mineral property rights and should not be treated with the same deference as oil and gas wells. It is a huge public health risk, as wastewater from oil and gas development is highly toxic — full of fracking chemicals, low level radioactive material, and petrochemicals.
The struggle in Battlement Mesa is representative of the struggle many Colorado communities face when dealing with the oil and gas industry. Residents deserve to
Proposed wastewater injection well reined in
“A line must be drawn somewhere, and toxic wastewater injection wells don’t belong in neighborhoods.”
— Leslie Robinson, GVCA
A new mapping project recently released by the Western Organization of Resource Councils reveals the impacts of oil and gas waste in the Rocky Mountain region, including Colorado.
Created by the FracTracker Alliance, the WORC Oil and Gas Waste Mapping Project uses state agency data to plot wastewater spills, injection wells, commercial
oilfield waste disposal facilities, and radioactive solid waste facilities.
The series of interactive maps increases public awareness of these activities and helps communities more easily monitor them.
The mapping project supplements No Time to Waste, WORC’s 2015 report that compares federal and state safeguards related to oil and gas waste.
FracTracker: because a map is worth 1,000 words
have a voice in decisions that could threaten their communities.
WCC will continue to work with Battlement Mesa and other impacted communities across the state to ensure the industry cannot
run roughshod over basic land-use planning and public process.
WCC’s Gasfield Justice program is been made possible by grants from the Frack Fund, the 11th Hour Project.
RIO BLANCOCOUNTY
MOFFAT COUNTY
GARFIELDCOUNTY
Injection disposal wells Brine spills
Class II injection wells Wastewater pits
Wastewater disposal facilities
The WORC Oil and Gas Waste Mapping Project can be accessed by visiting www.worc.org/worc-oil-gas-waste-mapping-project/.
by Steve Allerton, WCC PresidentOur granddaughter Iris was born on
Dec. 21, the darkest night of the year. The winter solstice for many is that mo-ment when things begin to turn around – light born out of darkness.
On the day Iris reached one month of age – Jan. 21 – the Women’s March manifested itself in the form of mil-lions of people around the world that stood together saying proudly “we care for each other”. My wife, Deb, and I marched among thousands in downtown
Grand Junction. (See related article on page 8.)
Western Colorado Congress played its part in this historic march. Staff and members also worked together with many others, planning, organizing, and spreading the word while encouraging participation in numerous other local events. WCC is poised to continue its tradition of building strength and power from the grassroots. Citizens are hun-gry for meaningful action and WCC is here to support our members as well as
our present and future leaders. Just as our granddaughter brought
light into our family, we too can be a light for each other. Thank you to WCC staff and members who generously share their time, expertise, and finan-cial support.
Here’s to a 2017 that brings us together sharing one voice, finding common purpose, and reveling in the opportunity to impact change on the is-sues we care about.
Steve Allerton
Building power for a civic solstice
4 - Western Colorado Congress Clarion • Spring 2017
Meanwhile, we’re awaiting the introduction of at least two other oil and gas bills that we’ll likely support, one that would increase local governments’ control over land use and another that would improve air quality monitoring.
Clean energyElectric Utility Distribution
Grid Resource Acquisition Plan (SB 145): WCC supported this bill which unfortunately has died. This bill would have pushed Colorado’s electric utilities to move faster in incorporating distributed energy resources (i.e., anything other than centralized power plants) into the power grid.
Public landsEqual Protection from
Federal Employee Personal Attack (HB 1141): WCC was strongly opposed to this bill so again we’re happy to report the death of a bill! HB 1141 would have made federal employees vulnerable to a felony charge for managing grazing on public lands.
Hardrock miningWCC is working with Western
Slope allies on a bill to reform some of the state’s outdated mining regulations that allowed
the Gold King Mine wastewater spill to happen near Silverton in 2015. We can’t discuss the particulars of this bill until it has been introduced, but WCC will support it.
Food and agricultureRecognize Industrial Hemp
Agricultural Product For Agricultural Water Right (SB 117): WCC has long supported the growth and creation of hemp as a viable crop in Western Colorado. This bill affirms that industrial hemp is a recognized agricultural product that people can use their
water rights to cultivate. A similar bill (SB 109) has been introduced that would recognize hemp as a viable animal feed. WCC supports these bills to give more tools and options to Western Slope family farms and ranches.
Social justiceWage Theft Transparency Act
(HB 1021): In 2014 WCC joined with allied organizations across the state to pass the Wage Protection Act, which created legal channels for workers suffering from wage theft. This bill clarifies that businesses must be transparent about any wage theft claims they are facing. WCC supports this bill.
2017 Colorado House: Western Slope DistrictsSpeaker of the House: Crisanta Duran (D-5) — Majority Leader: KC Becker (D-13) — Minority Leader: Patrick Neville (R-16)
Toll-free number outside Denver, Jan-May: 1-800-811-7647 — Capitol mailing address for all: 200 E. Colfax, Denver 80203
Representative’s name is followed by party (Dem/Rep) and district (see map).
KC Becker (D-13)(303) [email protected]: Legislative Council Executive Committee of the
Legislative Council
Marc Catlin (R-58)(303) [email protected]: Finance Public Health Care & Human Serv.
Ray Scott (R-7)(303) [email protected]: State, Veterans & Military Affairs
(Chair) Agriculture, Natural Resources &
Energy Legislative Council Transportation
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59 62
61
Moffat
Rio Blanco
Routt
Garfield Eagle
Grand
Jackson
Mesa
Delta
Pitkin
Montrose
San Miguel
Dolores
Montezuma
La Plata Archuleta
OurayHinsdale
Saguache
Mineral
13
Summit
Gunnison
San Juan
Lake
Moffat
Rio Blanco
Routt
Garfield Eagle Summit
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DeltaGunnison
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San Miguel
Dolores
MontezumaLa Plata Archuleta
Hinsdale Saguache
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2017 Colorado Senate: Western Slope DistrictsPres. of the Senate: Kevin Grantham (R-2) — Majority Leader: Chris Holbert (R-30) — Minority Leader: Lucia Guzman (D-34)Toll-free number outside Denver, Jan-May: 1-888-473-8136 — Capitol mailing address for all: 200 E. Colfax, Denver 80203
Gov. John hickenlooper (d) 136 State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203-1792
@GovofCO
www.colorado.gov/governor(303) 866-2471 Front Desk
(303) 866-2885 Consituent Services
Citizens make the difference, and we’re helping Western Slope voices shape state policy and legislation. Please bolster our
collective voice and effectiveness! Visit www.wccongress.org to make a donation today!
Spring 2017 • Western Colorado Congress Clarion - 5
By Dave Reed, Executive Director
We like to describe Western Colorado Congress as a sort of organizational multi-tool. Our members are trained to work on a variety of issues – we can do anything! The community organizing model is supremely versatile.
But just because you can do anything doesn’t mean you can do everything. Given limited resources – and given the new political landscape – how can WCC be as strategic as possible in the issues and campaigns it takes on?
This is an exciting time to be on the front lines of change. There is danger, but also great opportunity. People are engaged like they haven’t been for a very long time, and they’re looking for ways to get involved. Many old assumptions about the people’s relationship to government now seem to be in play.
Meanwhile, there’s renewed interest in good old-fashioned grassroots community organizing. National funders are suddenly excited to support groups like WCC – provided they’ve got clear strategies for building power and engaging their communities.
We need dataThis spring and summer, we have
an unprecedented opportunity to go out into our communities and learn from them how to increase WCC’s impact. We’ve received partial funding from the Manaus Fund (and we’re seeking more) to carry out an in-depth “organizing assessment” of our core counties, and then to feed the information we gather into an organization-wide strategic plan.
We’ve contracted with Teresa Purcell, a consultant based in
Washington state, to lead us in this effort. A community and political organizer with three decades of experience, Teresa specializes in helping mostly rural, state-based organizations like ours with just this sort of strategic process.
But to be clear, we’ve hired Teresa to design and manage the process, and to provide the training. We – WCC staff and especially the members – must be the ones to carry it out. If you’ve ever been involved in any of WCC’s campaigns, you’ll know that staff provide the organizing support, but it’s the members who are out in front leading the effort.
WCC is owned by its members, so the members decide what it works on and how to carry out the mission. But they – you – we! – need data to make such decisions.
A surge of outreachSo here’s the plan.From April to June, we’ll fan out
and conduct a series of structured one-on-one interviews with people who can speak for key sectors of our communities – young people, professionals, farmers and ranchers, people of color, faith communities, low-income people, and so on. Some of these people will be WCC
members, but most will not be. Some of them will be traditional allies, some will be folks we don’t typically
hang out with, and a few will be those who actively
oppose us on some issues.
We’ll be identifying concerns
that are broadly shared and strongly felt, and that fall within our mission of challenging
social, economic and environmental injustice. We’ll also be seeking to map the invisible power structures
across a wide swath of Western Colorado – because if we want to make real, lasting change, we need to understand where the power levers are and how to shift them.
In addition to interviews, we’ll hold small-group sessions in each of our main communities to facilitate conversations about the issues WCC could and should be working on, and the role WCC and its affiliates should play in each community. And finally, we’ll solicit the views of as many people as possible – members as well as “members we haven’t met” – via an online survey.
It’s going to be the kind of surge of community outreach that we’ve
wanted to do for a long time, but have never had the staff time to do. We believe it will bring our current members into deeper contact with their communities and with a new generation. That alone should make WCC more welcoming and attractive to new members.
Knowledge is powerMore to the point, this surge
will provide us with much better information for prioritizing the issues and campaigns that WCC works on going forward. That knowledge is power – what we do with it will be up to us, but we definitely want to know if there are things WCC can be doing differently to attract more members and funding.
The results will be presented
at WCC’s annual conference (tentatively set for Aug. 26). Then, for the remainder of the year, Teresa will lead us in developing a long-term strategic plan to guide WCC in growing membership, increasing funding, building political power, expanding staff and possibly geographic scope – in other words, a plan to retool WCC into the powerful force that the people of the Western Slope need it to be!
Again, this is a time when more is going to be required of us, but also when we potentially have more people-power and resources to draw on. It behooves us, as an organization, to reach out beyond our usual circles and listen to our future members, and hear their concerns and tell them about what WCC has to offer.
Retooling the “multi-tool” organizationMembers are invited to help sharpen WCC through a surge of community outreach
Get Involved!Want to do “field work” for WCC? We’re looking for members in each
of our communities to help WCC identify the issues and campaigns it should be working on.
We’re going to launch the process in the first week of April with a series of local presentations by Teresa Purcell, who’s leading the effort. Later in April, Teresa and WCC staff will lead trainings for those who are interested in conducting interviews with key community members.
There will also be other ways to help out, from developing the online survey to organizing a local focus group. We invite you to get involved at whatever level feels right for you.
Interested? Contact your community organizer or the office (see page 2) for more info.
Help us bring Telluride Mountainfilm on Tour to Grand Junction this fall! We need volunteers to watch and select films, plan the event logistics, and engage the community.
For more information, contact Stephani Soto at (970) 256-7650 or [email protected].
IN GRAND JUNCTION
6 - Western Colorado Congress Clarion • Spring 2017
$5000 and upArches FoundationFarmAidR.B. & Cass GallowayJared Polis FoundationLaffey-McHugh FoundationManaus FundWORC Education Project
$1000-$4999Alpenglow FoundationBen & Jerry’s FoundationBarbara Gallisath & Chris
SeidmanMark HarveyHeather Hopton Memorial
FundTed & Linda KoemanJohn MetcalfRandy & Jen Parker*Rob Pew*Suzanne Foster Porter
& Rand PorterAron RalstonPeggy RawlinsEric RechelLaura & Steve RossetterDenny & Joy SwansonMary Beth & Jonathan TukmanRein & Jan van WestRoss Worley
$500-$999Deb & Steve AllertonHerb & Laura May BaconBruce BergerRon Binz & Mary DonahueLiza ClarkeMichael & Lainie ConleyDickerson Keating FamilyAndrew & Audrey FranklinPeter LooramKen & Emily Ransford
*Steve ReimerDana & Lindsey ThomasJack Wilke
$200-$499Marv & Nancy BallantyneCharles & Robbie BreauxBrad & Danielle Carre BurrittDuane & Arleta CarrDudley & Sharon CaseJohn Clark & Mallory ClarkeKaren CombsRalph D’AlessandroDee Dee & Peter DeckerGayle EmbreyJohn GrooAnn Harvey & Mike CampbelStan McNeese & Sherri HelmsJane HendricksElizabeth & Monte HighRandy MartinAmy McBride*Red Mountain InnJim RiddellElizabeth RobinsonAndrea RobinsongDon Rogers & Paula JamesKent SnowbargerMelissa & James SullivanGeoff Tischbein & Gail JensenBetty & William WaltersLynda WaltersMichael & Patrice WhistlerMarshall WhitingMonica & Wayne WiitanenKevin & Brenda Bafus WilliamsScott & Sheelagh WilliamsCharles WryeLavinia Ycas
$100-$199Arlene & Gene Albers
Tom & Joy BairdJim Bedford & Luci ReeveScott BeilfussKevin & Eugenia Bone*George BrewsterJoyce & Terre Bucknam*Franci CaudlinCommunity First FoundationKevin & Kjersten DavisMatthew & Angela DeethsKate DenningMary Ellen DenomyEllie & Steve DooleyCarol DuellDan ElsnerJan & Jerry FedrizziScott FetchenhierJohn FielderJim FinchLinda GannConnie GilesWayne Goin & Linda WoodEllie Goldstein & John MooreSean & Maeve GoodbodyKathy GreenJoanie GriffPeter Hackett & Ruth HigdonBill HaggertyPaula & Steven HarperStephen & Leslie HatchDoris HelfterNoble & Natalie Heller*Kristen HenryJaney Hines & John BroderickAnn HopkinsonStephen HornbackSarah Hutchinson & Steve
MaxwellR Carlos and Pam Hyde NakaiSandra JacksonAnn JohnsonMatt King
Andreya & Michael KrievesPaula Lehr & Art MearsRichard & Linda LevineSid & Ruth LindauerMark LipseyAnn & Daniel Longsworth OrrAl Lowande & Roze Evans*Cecil Lucas*Virginia McAfeeTom & Martha Ann McKenneyDavid B MillerTamera MinnickMarjory Musgrave & Frank
PetersEleanor & Bill NelsonGretchen & Robin Nicholoff*Daniel OppenheimerKaren OrtizAustin & Carolyn Ray*Cheryl & Ronald RobackerLeslie Robinson & James
BradfordKaren Sjoberg & Joel
PrudhommePhoebe SophoclesJohn Stickney & Lee BeckBen & Adrienne StroockMary Thom & Ken ScissorsPeggy & Tod TibbettsJohn Toolen & Diane SmithDick VernimenLinda VidalElizabeth Jane WallaceDeborah WheelerAndy Wiessner & Patsy
With contributions from Richard Hyland (Grand Junction) and Rein van West (Ridgway)
WCC members are ramping up outreach to build support from business owners and community leaders for an innovative state program that finances clean and renewable energy improvements.
Colorado’s C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) program offers special loans to owners of commercial/industrial/agricultural property to improve a property’s energy and water efficiency. The loans are highly competitive, with out-of-pocket costs substantially offset by reduced expenditures on energy and water for the property.
The loans could also help fuel
our region’s economic transition away from dependence on fossil fuel extraction.
The catch is that before C-PACE becomes available in a given county, the county commissioners must approve it. WCC members, who know a thing or two about working with county commissioners, saw this as a perfect opportunity to get involved.
In mid-November, WCC asked Paul Scharfenberger from the Colorado Energy Office to lead two C-PACE trainings for members of WCC's local groups in Montrose, Ouray and Mesa counties. Armed with that information, they are now building support among community leaders and property owners.
Uncompahgre Valley Association members hope to approach the Montrose County Commissioners for support of C-PACE in April.
Mesa CountyOn February 14, Mesa County
members met with Kristi Pollard, head of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP) – with whom they had already
established contact in 2016 – to support her effort to persuade Mesa County Commissioners to reconsider C-PACE.
A week later, two of the three commissioners appeared to be supportive, with the third requesting more information from Scharfenberger, who had participated in the meeting via teleconference.
In light of these developments, our Mesa County team has accelerated efforts to get local property owners interested in and supportive of C-PACE approval.
Mesa County team members send out thanks to Kevin Williams with WORC for leading them through a campaign planning session in early January.
Ouray CountyIn addition to building local
support for C-PACE, members of the Ridgway-Ouray Community Council are also responding to the increasing prevalence of electric vehicles among both local residents and tourists to the area.
The Town of Ridgway, ROCC’s
Clean Energy Committee and San Miguel Power Association recently worked together to submit a grant application to the Colorado Energy Office to fund an Electric Vehicle Charging Station. Ridgway town officials should know by this summer if the request will be funded. More information can be found at: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/energyoffice/charge-ahead-colorado.
This past year saw a ROCC stakeholder team working with Ridgway’s local school district to replace most of the two schools’ fluorescent lighting with LEDs. A little more than four months after installation, results show an average savings of $1200 per month on electrical bills that have successfully offset the district’s investment.
Other financial support for the LEDs was generously contributed by ROCC and San Miguel Power Association.
WCC’s clean energy program has been made possible by a grant from the Harris and Frances Block Foundation as well as individual members and supporters.
Picking up the PACE on clean energy
Western Colorado Congress wishes to thank the following generous people and foundations who have made donations since our previous newsletter. We couldn’t do it without you! New members are highlighted with an asterisk (*). This issue’s
list also includes our monthly donors, acknowledging their annual total gift.THANK YOU!An enormous
Continued on next page
Learn more about C-PACE at copace.com.
Spring 2017 • Western Colorado Congress Clarion - 7
By Hannah Bou-Matar, Grand Junction
There's a lot of buzz in the Grand Valley right now about needing a community center. PLACE (People for Local Activities & Community Enrichment) is working to make that buzz part of the upcoming spring elections.
PLACE is contacting all current Grand Junction City Council members and candidates to ask them for their stance on building a community center. We also plan to raise this issue at the League of Women Voters’ candidate forum on March 23 at 7 pm at the City Auditorium. Please plan to join us!
PLACE, a committee of WCC of Mesa County, is in the process of raising money for a feasibility study for the proposed center. We've received a $5,000 grant from the Rocky Mountain Health Foundation and are currently applying for a grant from the Colorado Health Foundation.
We have been gathering signatures of support to bring to the city council and now have over 1,600 signatures! We hope to have a workshop with the city council after the April election, at which time we can show the
signatures we've gathered, the many letters to the editor that have been published in support of a community center, as well as results from our survey.
We will also ask for the council’s support in applying for a matching grant from the Department of Local Affairs and seek the city’s support for getting the feasibility study conducted.
Want to get involved? There are many ways! Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/GJCommunityCenter, and please share our posts and encourage your friends to follow us.
Contact city council members and let them know you support a community center.
Write letters to the editor. Get one of our Signatures of Support sheets and collect signatures. Attend one of our meetings or community information sessions. Our next meeting will be Friday, March 17, at the Unitarian Universalist Church (536 Ouray Ave., Grand Junction) from 9:30 to 11 am.
You can always get in touch with us by emailing us at [email protected].
Thank you for your support!
By Jeriel Brammeier, Organizer
In 2016 I had the opportunity to work for Western Colorado Congress in its successful effort to raise the minimum wage in our state. Now, I am honored to join the WCC staff and serve with our dedicated and growing membership on the front lines of positive change and community action.
Although originally from Carmel Valley, California, I’ve called Grand Junction and the Western Slope home for 16 years. I experimented with a brief move to Denver in 2013, and quickly returned with a greater appreciation for our beautiful wilderness just outside my door and the close-knit communities living in it. Living here allows me the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and run, hike, and bike. But even on those mild winter days, I prefer to stay inside and craft with my daughter.
I had my daughter, Emma, when I was 17 years old, and she has been my sidekick ever since. Determined to provide the best life for her, I learned the value of organizing and the processes required to start conversations,
challenge the status quo, and effect positive change in our communities.
Once I became educated about the social, environmental, and economic issues we confront on the Western Slope, I was drawn to help make positive change by testifying at the capital, organizing local trainings, marching and rallying, and working for numerous causes. I’ve worked with engaged citizens up and down the Slope and across Colorado on issues ranging from veteran’s affairs, healthcare, and women’s rights issues.
Editor’s Note: Stop by the Grand Junction WCC office at 134 N. 6th Street and welcome our newest community organizer to the team!
Jeriel back on staff team as community organizer
GJ community center raised as election issue
Dean BresslerTom & Sue Ann Buick*Cyndi & Fred BurdickRob BurnettWendy Burrell*Dara BurwellOni ButterflyLynn CarrettaRobyn Cascade & Katie
KemperBeth CashdanMichael Cassidy & Barbara
SeelyeBarbara ChamberlinSusan & Alan Chandler-ReedJanet Chapman*Patricia ChewWilliam H ChipleyCarole ChowenCarol ConnollyMary Coombs*Jamie & Rebekah CoulterPat & Cliff CraderWilliam CrowtherKeith Daly*David Dancy*Pete DavisRoger DavisDouglas DeNio*Ann DettmerDave & Linda DevanneyElizabeth & Eric DickersonDavid Dirks*Kayla DodsonKen & Martha Dolezal*Donnamarie*Shane Duckworth
Tom ElaWilliam Erven*Douglas EstesRosemary EstyGarry Evenson*Raymond FallonDede FayDebbie FerrisKeith Fife & Kathy PortnerDean & Elizabeth FilissYvonne FinchWilliam & Jane FindlayAnn FitzSimmons & John Gould*Ann Marie FlemingNori Francis & Ralph TingeyBruce Gabow & Deborah
MurphyDanny & Sherrie GallowayColleen GardnerDemi GarnerMartha Gearty*Avery Glassman*Lou Ann Goff*Stephanie GoodeKathy & Mick Graff*Jeanette HackneySusan HallPeggy Hanks*Woody Harmeyer*Philip & Carol HarroldPeter Hart*Gerry HarveyWendell & Charlotte HatfieldRichard HerrmannPenny & Enno HeuscherNina Hiatt & Paul Heiman*Steven HilbertDeanna Hines
*Corey HinmanJohn Hollrah & Kay Lair*Don & Cyndi HolmanKate & Josh Holmes*Elizabeth HowardBarbara HughesRichard & Jan HylandCurtis ImrieTanya IshikawaJock JacoberBill & Jane JankePaul JanzenGreg & Sean Jeung*Linda JohnsonKen Jones*Don JonesDavid Jones & Judi Chamberlin*Erin KellerDeb Kennard & Josh McDanielScotty KentonVirginia Kile & Fred WetlauferJon KirkpatrickLee KirschLenna KittermanBrad KlafehnCharlotte Koebel*Stephen KolarikBeverly Kolkman*John KrestingerSharon & Dick Kreutzen*Gary LakeKimberly LangstonElmar Lawaczeck MD*Barbara LeeBetsy & Dale LeonardSteve LiguoreLinda Lindsey & Steve Wolcott*Matthew Lisenby
BurkhartJames & Carol SchottMary & Clee SealingJack SebestaDave SegalJon Sering & Pamela HartsenButch & Peggy ShawMarikay Shellman*Karen & John SinclairDiane Sipe*James Smith
Linda Smith*Natalie SnydersDonald Solawetz*Glenn Sommer*Tamara SpanoAlan StaehleHarriet StephensJeanne Stewart & Ian Bald*Christi StricklandSharon Sullivan*Anne SwansonDon & Sally SwartzPat Sweeney & Teresa EricksonCarol TempleNancy TerrillNoalani Terry*Susan ThieleDiane Thompson & Lonnie
White*Frances Tisdel*James & Carol TouvelleCarl & Ruth TownsendTanya TravisGene UlrichLyle & Beverly Van DoverDevon Van Dusen & George
HallLynn VranyGigi WalkerGayle Wells*Deborah WesterveltGarland & Anne WhiteKaren Winkel*Mary & Alannah WisterWilliam WuertheleLillian Wyant*Judith & William YeoAnnemarie & Samuel Yoder
Up to $55 (continued)
8 - Western Colorado Congress Clarion • Spring 2017
By Roxanne Dennis and Dave Reed, WCC staff
“This is incredible!” Scott Beilfuss, a WCC member and one of the coordinators of the Women’s March for Grand Junction, was shaking his head in awe as he watched the throngs gather on Jan. 21. By the time the marchers reached the final rally in front of the Two Rivers Convention Center, they were close to 3,000 strong.
The peaceful, affirmative quality of the march was as astonishing as the quantity of marchers. It wasn’t a protest. Like similar events around the state and nation, it was a show of solidarity and a celebration of what the participants were for – democracy, diversity, freedom of religion, immigrant rights, a healthy environment, and tying
it all together, women’s rights. Clever, heartfelt, sometimes heart-wrenching, the signs carried by the women, children, men and dogs who walked the parade route spoke of unity, honor, love and fortitude.
The tone had been set six weeks earlier, when Deb Allerton, another WCC member and an active member of the Koinonia congregation, posted an invitation to a planning session on social media:
Let’s inspire a radical inclusiveness and a just transition to a sustainable future.
Let’s come together and plan how to be voices for human and Earth justice.
Let’s continue to build a democracy with “liberty and justice for ALL”.
Out of that meeting emerged Western Colorado Days of
Action, a coalition of more than 20 organizations, including WCC. Scores of volunteers helped mount a series of events coinciding with Martin Luther King Day and the presidential inauguration, and hundreds of people attended presentations on such topics as immigrant stories and reproductive rights. The Women’s March was the icing on the cake.
The power of organizing “The success of the march and
the other events held during the Days of Action can be attributed to the power of organizing,” said Beilfuss. “Most of the people who showed up at that first meeting on Dec. 7 had experience organizing groups of people. Koinonia and the Universal Unitarian churches were hugely instrumental in making events possible by throwing open their doors – just having a place to hold an event is such an interesting and essential component in organizing.”
Richard Hyland, another WCC member and coordinator of other Days of Action events, added, “The march made me proud…and it changed my perspective on Grand Junction.”
In the wake of the successful January series, Days of Action is now planning more events and presentations throughout the year, with several set for the week of Earth Day (April 22). For details and to help out, look up the Western Colorado Days of Action page on Facebook.
Local movements are springing up like this all around the country, as record numbers of people seek to get involved in the political system, many for the first time. Some of them are outspoken in their opposition to the current Administration, but Days of Action, like WCC, maintains a nonpartisan stance based on values. Its mission is “to coordinate, organize and promote positive action that achieves social, environmental
and economic justice in our communities.”
A strategic investmentIn many ways, Days of Action is
the perfect complement to Western Colorado Congress. While it’s providing opportunities for people to take action and get involved in relatively short-turnaround activities, WCC is organizing for change over the long term. Days of Action recruits newcomers and puts them right to work; WCC teaches them how to be campaigners, leaders and future decision-makers.
That’s why we’re making a strategic investment in Days of Action. It’s not a total coincidence that our newest organizer, Jeriel Brammeier, has been part of the coalition’s leadership since the start. We’re committing a significant portion of Jeriel’s time to supporting Days of Action going forward, and to connecting DOA with other emerging groups in Montrose, Garfield and adjacent counties.
A number of Days of Action members attended the Principles of Community Organizing training that WCC hosted in February (see page 2), and we plan to offer additional specific trainings as needed.
At this historic time for our nation, it seems extra important to link arms with other groups and form a solid defense of the basic values of democracy and justice that we all hold dear. Western Colorado Days of Action is serving as an important hub for this coming-together. WCC is poised to support and organize the groundswell of people-power that’s emerging. Let’s bring on the action!
Above: The crowd at Grand Junction’s Women’s March on January 21 clogged Main Street and the plaza in front of Two Rivers Convention Center. Photo by Dave Reed. Right: Priscilla Mangnall proclaimed her resolve at the Women’s March as she steadied
herself with a hot pink cane. Photo by Jennifer Hancock.
WCC supports Days of Action
What the world needs now is allyship
by Dave Reed, Executive Director
Now more than ever, we all have to support each other. In particular, WCC would like to urge its members and friends to join in solidarity with the groups that are dealing with the harshest impacts of the current political environment, such as immigrants, minorities and the LGBTQ community.
The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition is currently hosting a series of presentations around the state called “Immigration 101 for Allies.” Besides covering the basics of the U.S. immigration system and the new executive orders on immigration, the talk includes an enlightening section on how to be an ally, or “allyship.”
What is allyship? CIRC quotes the Anti-Oppression Network’s definition: “an active, consistent, and difficult practice
of unlearning and re-evaluating, in which a person of privilege seeks to operate in solidarity with a marginalized group of people.”
The bottom line: If we’ve got privilege, by virtue of our citizenship or our skin color or other status, we can use it to support groups that don't. If we’ve got a voice, we can use it to speak up for those who are voiceless or marginalized. If we’ve got influence or a skill, we can apply it to help our allies.
But it all starts with recognizing the elephant in the room, which is privilege. “I tell people that we have to acknowledge privilege – that’s a big thing,” says Jon Williams, the founder of Black Lives Matter in Grand Junction.
WCC and CIRC will co-host a session of “Immigration 101 for Allies” in Grand Junction in the coming months – stay tuned for details.
