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Release Date: January 20, 2011
Colorado conservation groups announced plans for the 2011 legislative session to create jobs, improve Colorado’s economy and protect our environment through energy efficiency upgrades and electronic waste recycling. "Our goals this year are simple: reduce energy waste, recycle more and continue efforts for clean air and water," said Elise Jones, Executive Director of Colorado Environmental Coalition. "When the dust settles on this session, we will judge our success based on the savings families across Colorado will see in their pocketbooks and the jobs created by greener priorities." The proposal includes energy efficiency measures such as giving potential buyers more information on the energy efficiency of sale properties and helping homeowners make energy efficiency upgrades. "At a time when job creation is at a premium, the clean energy industry brings a track record of success,” said Pam Kiely, Program Director of Environment Colorado. “With close to two thousand clean energy businesses up and running across the state, tens of thousands of Coloradans are already hard at work building a new energy future— and now is not the time to slow down. This year we are laser-focused on creating efficiencies in how we use energy, bringing more good jobs to Colorado and putting money back in the pockets of families and businesses across the state." Fritz Diether, President of Frostbusters & Coolth Co., an energy efficiency upgrade business in Grand Junction, is excited about the groups’ proposal. "My job is helping people save money, and improve comfort, health and safety in their homes by making them more energy efficient. Anytime we can lower the barriers to implementing energy efficient upgrades in homes and businesses, consumers and my company both benefit. The more work we have, the more employees we can hire." Also, the groups want to end the dumping of electronic waste, such as computers and televisions, in landfills and promote recycling that will create more jobs. In 2008 Colorado produced more than 50,000 tons of electronic waste and only 8,000 tons or 6.25% was recycled. These electronic devices that end up in landfills contain toxic metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury. Consumers who want to do the right thing and try to take their electronic waste to recyclers have no way of knowing if the product is recycled or in some cases shipped off to be handled improperly in foreign countries. A bill that requires manufacturers to take more responsibility for their electronic waste will be introduced this legislative session. “It’s time Colorado catches up with 23 other states that already have this type of legislation in place,” said Marjorie Griek, Executive Director of Colorado Association for Recycling. “This initiative will clean up our environment and create more recycling jobs in Colorado. Requiring manufacturers to be responsible for recycling their products will prevent contamination of our air, water and land, and ensure citizens that their electronic waste is recycled in a safe and responsible manner.” "We will continue to work towards these win-win solutions - those that protect our air, water, and our communities while also strengthening our economy and creating jobs for Coloradans. We are asking our legislators to join us to work together to grow our economy through energy efficiency savings and new jobs in clean energy and recycling," said Pete Maysmith, Executive Director of Colorado Conservation Voters. Maysmith added, "Now is not the time to look backwards. We will vigorously oppose any efforts to roll back advances made to protect Colorado's environment and make the state a leader in clean energy job creation." |
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