The conservation community in Colorado includes more than 100 organizations, representing more than 150,000 Coloradans that work together to protect our state's incredible natural resources and our quality of life. The conservation community's top legislative priorities for 2010 are:

Increase Colorado's Renewable Energy Standard (RES): The proposed legislation will increase Colorado's Renewable Energy Standard from 20% to 30% by 2020. Increasing the RES will keep Colorado a national leader on renewable energy and help bring tens of thousands of new jobs to Colorado and provide homegrown energy.

Promote Water Efficiency: With more than a million people expected to move to Colorado in the next decade, we need to use our finite and precious water resources as efficiently as possible. As part of a larger water efficiency package, we will work to create a reporting system to provide a statewide snapshot of efficiency efforts so that water providers can replicate best practices and as a state we can commit critical resources to the areas of greatest need. We will also look to help make it easier for new home buyers in Colorado to purchase "Water Smart" homes, with the most water efficient faucets and appliances available being offered as a standard option. Additionally, the conservation community will support the reauthorization of the state's water conservancy and efficiency program to provide vital planning resources to water providers and local governments.

Ensure Uranium Waste Clean-Up: Uranium development has a radioactive and toxic legacy in Colorado. Operations have polluted our air and water, devastated communities and public health, threatened wildlife, and ruined lands. In March 2009, Cotter announced plans to reopen its Canon City mill, even though it is still an Environmental Protection Agency superfund site and has other outstanding violations. The Uranium Processing Accountability legislation would require any uranium processing facility to clean up its toxic mess before it would be given a new permit to renew or expand its operations.

Defend the New Oil and Gas Rules: Last year the legislature passed new drinking water, public health and wildlife protections to minimize the impacts from oil and gas development. These protections were adopted after an 18-month rulemaking process, representing extensive testimony and a balanced and thoughtful approach to making sure that Colorado's energy industry can prosper while safeguarding our communities and a diversified economy. The conservation community will ensure that the new protections are implemented as intended.

Defend the Conservation Easement Tax Credit (CETC): CETC is one of the only meaningful tools available in Colorado to incentivize private land conservation, and has led to the protection of thousands of acres of Colorado farms and ranches. The CETC helps agricultural families retain land for its traditional use and reduces the impact of population growth on critical plant and wildlife habitat and critical species.

Achieving these legislative goals will not only help preserve our state's quality of life, they also will help us foster a sustainable and prosperous economy. This agenda helps us to bring new jobs to the state, preserve Colorado's natural beauty, and maintains important revenue-generating agricultural and outdoor recreation industries, protects our water supply, and reduces the state's carbon emissions.

Clean energy and the environment continue to be important to Colorado voters. While the conservation community and each member of the legislature will not agree on the specifics of every issue, it is our hope that the legislature as a whole will be responsive to the conservation concerns of Colorado voters and pass good, sensible legislation that protects our environment and quality of life.