E2 Quarterly Update: Rocky Mountains Chapter
Clean Power Plan, Clean Jobs, Direct Advocacy, Lecture and a New Member
The Rockies chapter had a busy final quarter of 2015 advocating for the EPA’s Clean Power Plan and hosting a complementary event.
Clean Power Plan Hearings in Denver
In September, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment hosted its first public meeting, where officials presented an overview of the process for developing the State Implementation Plan for the Clean Power Plan (CPP). Special thanks to ROX member RJ Harrington, who attended and testified in support of an ambitious plan for Colorado at this meeting and at EPA’s second CPP hearing in November. The same day, The Denver Business Journal published RJ’s op-ed: Clean Power Plan means more Colorado clean energy jobs
Meeting with Senator Gardner Staff
E2 member Michael Rucker, business leader Whitney Painter, and I met with Senator Gardner’s Denver staff in October, to discuss the importance of the Clean Power Plan in furthering Colorado's economic prosperity and strong environmental policy. Gardner staff showed great interest in the E2 reports we brought with us, showing how renewable energy and energy efficiency are providing strong economic growth in Colorado.
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| Left to right: ROX Members John Gordon, Jeff Bennett, Susan Nedell and RJ Mastic at Jeff’s “Global Warming” reception and lecture. |
Global Warming Lecture and Reception
In October, we also hosted a reception and attended E2 Member, Jeffrey Bennett’s lecture “I am not a Scientist” Guide to Global Warming,” at Fiske Planetarium on the CU Boulder campus. Jeff gave a stimulating lecture about the science behind global warming and showed us some solutions to this problem.
National Clean Jobs Ranking
Colorado ranked third in the nation in the number of clean energy jobs announced during the third quarter, according to E2’s Q3 Clean Energy Jobs Report. From July through September of this year, E2 tracked three projects in Colorado expected to create 850 jobs. Two of the projects were in wind energy and the third was in solar. Colorado has ranked in the Top 10 every quarter this year.
Gardner Alert on Congressional Review Act
As a follow up to our October meeting with Senator Gardner's staff, ROX members sent a letter in November to the Senator, urging him to oppose the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution (SJ Res. 24), focused on undercutting the Clean Power Plan (CPP). Unfortunately, he voted for the resolution. In the coming months, the ROX chapter will continue to urge the Senator to support the Clean Power Plan, reinforcing how it will contribute to the economic vitality of Colorado.
NEW E2 ROX MEMBER
We are pleased to introduce our newest ROX member, RJ Mastic, Founder and CEO of Ecosystems.
RJ has had a lifelong dream of owning his own sustainable business. It is that drive which took him to the Leeds School of Business at CU in Boulder, Colorado where he attended the Entrepreneurship program. It was also in Boulder that he discovered a passion for triple bottom line: Economics, Energy, and Efficiency.
After graduating in 2006, RJ decided to combine his family background in construction, his studies on sustainable business practices, and his vision for a company that would focus on implementing cost saving measures. As a result, RJ founded Ecosystems, a company committed to increasing their clients’ bottom line while creating a positive impact on the planet in the process.
RJ continues to grow the company of his dreams while also playing an active role in his community through helping and connecting with others. RJ continuously strives to give back through his extensive volunteer work with nonprofit organizations across Colorado's Front Range. He has served on the board of the Colorado Green Building Guild for 4 years. RJ is also a fourth generation member of the Elks Fraternal Organization where he passionately serves the Denver #17 Lodge and the Colorado State Elks.
RJ also is expanding his business to the Pittsburgh area, and had his op-ed, focused on the Clean Power Plan, published in the Pittsburgh Business Times.
– Susan Nedell is E2's Rocky Mountains Advocate.