Colorado Conservation Groups Announce Merger

Will Create Major Force for Colorado’s Environment, Natural Heritage

DENVER - Two leading Colorado conservation groups – Colorado Environmental Coalition (CEC) and Colorado Conservation Voters (CCV) -- are excited to announce their plans to join together to create a new organization to increase the voice of Coloradans who care about Colorado’s environment.

The idea of CEC and CCV merging has been talked about on and off for a number of years.  However, 2012 presented unique opportunities and now is the perfect time to form a new organization combining the strengths of both groups -- CEC's strong policy, advocacy and organizing work, with CCV's focus on electing pro-environment candidates to public office and holding them accountable.

CEC and CCV have a long and successful history of collaborating on the key environmental issues of the day, working collectively at the State Capitol, and forging strategic partnerships to find success on a variety of levels, including:

·         Playing a central role in establishing the strongest public health, drinking water and wildlife protections from oil and gas drilling in the country.

• Ensuring that more than three million acres of wilderness will stay forever wild.
• Setting a statewide renewable energy standard, then increasing it to 30% and making it one of the strongest in the nation.
• Passing more than 130 different conservation bills at the state legislature in the past six years on a host of environmental issues ranging from water efficiency to air quality to energy efficiency to transit.

“CEC has a long history of working to protect what we cherish about Colorado and I am proud of our accomplishments,” said Elise Jones, Executive Director of Colorado Environmental Coalition.  “However, as conservationists who love this state and this planet dearly, we must seek new and creative solutions so that we can be more effective and strategic in achieving the conservation future that Coloradans want for our state.  That is why we have decided to join forces with our closest coalition partner, Colorado Conservation Voters -- to create an uber force for the environment, a juggernaut for Colorado’s natural heritage and a conservation voice that can’t be ignored.”

The merger will create a strong, unified and powerful new organization to champion Colorado’s land, water, air and people and it will enhance the conservation community’s ability to engage and mobilize Coloradans on the issues they care about.

“Coloradans belong to groups like CEC and CCV because we love Colorado, the people of this state, and care deeply about our environment.  Our stunning mountains, flowing rivers, gorgeous lakes, and clear blue skies brought us to Colorado and have kept us here.  We all know there is much more to be done to protect and preserve Colorado’s beauty and enhance the quality of life for all,” said Pete Maysmith, Executive Director of Colorado Conservation Voters.

“It is in this spirit – knowing we live in a state filled with natural wonder but facing enormous challenges that we have decided to merge CEC and CCV.  Today’s world calls for new ways of thinking and new institutions to tackle and solve the problems facing Coloradans,” CCV’s Maysmith added.

Pete Maysmith, current Executive Director of Colorado Conservation Voters, will lead the new organization.  Elise Jones, CEC’s Executive Director for over twelve years, will be leaving to run for political office.