2008 Energy Outreach Colorado Advocacy Talking Points

2008 is going to be an interesting year at the Colorado State Capitol. There are many challenges with the state budget and many competing needs – healthcare, transportation, and higher education as well as human service needs for many populations, disabled, seniors, children, etc.

All of these needs are important and valid but we believe that energy assistance is one program that can benefit many of Colorado’s vulnerable populations and is critical especially this time of year.

Energy Outreach Colorado is once again working hard to secure additional funding for energy assistance programs, both utility bill payment assistance to help keep people in their homes as well energy efficiency upgrades and conservation education programs to reduce energy usage thereby reducing family’s energy bills.

In 2006, with your help, we were able to secure $60 million over four years from the State to fund Energy Outreach Colorado, LEAP and weatherization. This state severance tax funding expires next year. We are hoping to extend that funding past 2009 but we need your help!

We need you to call your local Representative and Senator and let them know about the importance of energy assistance in their communities.

You can find your state representatives and state senators by going to http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/REAP/Default.htm
or http://www.vote-smart.org/ and entering your zip code+4
or you can call Jennifer Gremmert at Energy Outreach Colorado at 303-225-5052 or email at jgremmert@EnergyOutreach.org.

You know better than anyone the need for energy assistance in your communities but here are a few talking points to remember:

An alarming 22 percent of Colorado households -- nearly 370,000 – qualify for energy assistance under federal guidelines. For a family of four, that equates to an annual income of no more than $38,208 or $3,184 per month.

Energy costs may add up to as much as 40 percent of the budget for these households, resulting in constant worry and difficult choices between paying for energy and other basic necessities such as food and medical care.

Federal LEAP funds are not coming close to meeting the need. We need the State of Colorado to continue to support this important program.

You can feel free to email your legislators, call them and leave a message or try to meet them in person at local events. We really appreciate your help advocating for more energy assistance funding this year!

Any questions? Please call Jennifer Gremmert at 303-226-5052 or email at jgremmert@EnergyOutreach.org. THANK YOU!