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Colorado Communities for Climate Action briefs Gilpin County on state and federal advocacy, grants
Summary
Anita Saitz, advocacy director for Colorado Communities for Climate Action, told county commissioners that CC4CA represents 45 local governments, works at the state and federal level on climate policy and rulemaking, and helps members access federal grant funding created by recent legislation.
Anita Saitz, advocacy director for Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA), briefed the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners on June 24 about the coalition’s work advocating for state and federal climate policy, participating in rulemakings, and helping local governments tap federal grant dollars.
Saitz said CC4CA is a 45‑member local‑government coalition that vets policy by unanimous consent, focuses primarily on state legislation and agency rulemakings, and has recently increased federal advocacy because federal actions affect local members. She said the group reviewed 88 bills last legislative session, took positions on 55, and actively engaged on 51 bills; she said CC4CA amended or limited problematic provisions in several bills, including changing a proposed solar‑permitting mandate into a grant program and revising building performance standards to be feasible for local governments.
Saitz described CC4CA’s involvement in public‑utility proceedings, energy rulemakings and a newly formed nuclear ad hoc working group that is “investigative” in scope to identify potential guardrails for any future nuclear projects. She said the coalition is participating as an intervener in major utility resource planning cases and is active in rulemakings at agencies such as the Air Quality Control Commission and the Colorado Energy Office.
On federal funding, Saitz said Colorado jurisdictions have been awarded about $6.8 billion in Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, with roughly $1.3 billion of that going to CC4CA member jurisdictions; CC4CA helps members apply for and manage those funds and is currently focused on ensuring disbursed awards are actually distributed so local governments receive expected direct pay and grant support.
Saitz described opportunities for county involvement — from low‑engagement newsletter sign‑ups to serving as a voting board member — and said CC4CA provides sample testimony, registers local officials for hearings, and conducts workshops and trainings. Commissioners thanked CC4CA for assistance with workshops, training and legislative analysis and noted the county’s interest in grant guidance and EV charging permitting.
