About the Colorado Climate Network

The current members of the Network are:

  • Colorado Municipal League
  • Colorado Association of Ski Towns
  • City and County of Denver
  • City of Aurora
  • Boulder County
  • City of Fort Collins
  • City of Boulder
  • Park City, Utah
  • Town of Vail
  • Town of Breckenridge
  • Town of Frisco
  • Town of Dillon

The mission of the Network is to support efforts by local governments and allied organizations in Colorado to reduce heat-trapping gases and to adapt to climate change – whether those efforts are styled as climate, sustainability, energy, or adaptation programs. The Network helps its members develop and implement those programs, learn of funding and other resources, and interact more productively with other local and state programs in Colorado. The Network is open to members with established local programs as well as those just getting their programs underway. To download a description of the Network, click here.

Members of the Network can include any general-purpose local government in Colorado wishing to join. Local governments located in adjoining states may also be eligible, contingent on the approval of the Network Steering Committee. Also, any nonprofit or for-profit organization that is allied with a local government in cooperative action on local climate programs, that is nominated for membership by such a local government, and that is approved by the Steering Committee may join as a member.

Associate members of the Network can include organizations that wish to be affiliated with the Network, that wish to receive such benefits as being part of communications among Network members and reduced fees at Network events, and that are approved by the Network Steering Committee.

The Network works cooperatively with other organizations serving local governments. The Colorado Municipal League and the Colorado Association of Ski Towns have officially endorsed the Network. The Network is designed to supplement, coordinate with, and add value to the services provided by others, such as the Governor’s Energy Office and CML, and not duplicate any efforts.

The Network is an entity of, by, and for its members and is guided by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives of some Network members. The Network is administered by the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization (RMCO).

The Network’s principal services are the information and opportunities for interaction it offers to its members. Following the inaugural conference of the Network held in December 2010, the Steering Committee members took stock of a wealth of feedback and suggestions gathered there and formulated them into the Network's 2011 priorities:

  • Tracking state legislature actions, Hickenlooper Administration goals and initiatives, and state agency policies relevant to local programs, and inform Network members about all of these.RMCO’s legislative lobbyist already tracks and informs Network members of legislation of potential interest to them.
  • Promoting a common Network agenda of the types of state policies that the Network encourages the state government to pursue.
  • Developing messaging materials to assist Network members in describing and promoting local climate programs and their benefits.
  • Building and employing Network communications capabilities, including the Network’s website, www.coclimatenetwork.org, and direct communications with Network members.

The Network also holds, and will continue to hold, conferences and workshops for Network members and associate members. The inaugural conference of the Network was held in December 2010. A Network workshop was held at the Governor’s Energy Office in December 2009 for local governments in Colorado receiving direct entitlement grants under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. A conference and workshop program for 2011 has not yet been developed.

The services provided by the Network are expected to grow over time, particularly as additional funding is obtained for Network operations.

RMCO provides organizational, informational, administrative, outreach, and fundraising services for the Network. Local governments and other eligible organizations approved by the Steering Committee that are partners with RMCO (and which therefore obtain additional services from RMCO and which help sustain other RMCO programs besides the Network) become Network members or associate members without any additional payment. Alternatively, local governments and other qualified organizations can become members or associate members of the Network by paying dues just for the Network, without also becoming RMCO partners. The dues structures are:

Network Membership Dues

 

Organization size

 

Core Member

Regular Member

Basic Member

 

More than 250 employees

 

$4,000/year

$2,000/year

$1,000/year

 

250 or fewer employees

 

$2,000/year

$1,000/year

$500/year

Network Associate Membership Dues

 

Organization type

 

Core Member

Regular Member

Basic Member

 

All for-profit organizations; non-profit organizations with more than 250 employees

 

$4,000/year

$2,000/year

$1,000/year

 

Non-profit organization with 250 or fewer employees

 

$2,000/year

$1,000/year

$500/year

Additional funds are being sought, from foundations and elsewhere, to enable growth in Network operations. The Rocky Mountain Climate Organization is a 501(c)(3) organization, so contributions are tax-deductible.

The Network is administered by the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization (RMCO) and is guided by a Steering Committee of representatives of members. Additional services being offered by the Network include:

  • Opportunities through a members-only portion of this website for representatives of Network members to communicate with one another about their local programs, so they can share information, ask and answer questions of one another, and learn of other local programs and activities.

  • Information about grants and other funding opportunities for local programs. An example is this Network Update summarizing the elements of the federal stimulus legislation that provides billions of dollars to local climate and energy programs.

  • Information about state and federal actions relevant to local climate actions. RMCO has a lobbyist who will keep network members informed about actions in the Colorado General Assembly; the Network itself, however, is not currently expected to lobby the state or federal government on behalf of any Network positions, although a decision could be made in the future to do so.  

  • Workshops and other opportunities to learn from experts and interact other Network members. An example is a Network workshop held at the Governor’s Energy Office in December 2009 for local governments in Colorado receiving direct, entitlement grants under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program.

  • Assistance in forming and implementing regional collaborative efforts among local programs.  A first example is a Northern Mountains Climate and Energy Initiative of Network members and other local governments in Eagle, Grant, Routt, and Summit counties, convened by RMCO, which is currently developing plans for coordinated regional efforts.

Local governments and organizations interested in becoming members or associate members of the Network or having questions about it should contact Suzanne Farver, director of outreach of the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization, at farver@rockymountainclimate.org or 970-379-1217, or Tom Easley, director of programs of RMCO, at easley@rockymountainclimate.org or 303-861-6481 (office) or 303-887-4626 (mobile).

 

  

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