Report on Representative Junie Joseph’s Participation in the Clean Energy Legislative Academy and Subsequent Policy Priorities

Executive Summary

This report details the participation of Representative Junie Joseph in the Clean Energy Legislative Academy (CELA) and outlines her resulting legislative priorities for Colorado. The representative’s agenda demonstrates a strong commitment to integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on ensuring an equitable and sustainable energy transition. The core policy initiatives aim to advance affordable clean energy, sustainable community infrastructure, and social equity, directly aligning with SDG 7, SDG 11, SDG 10, and SDG 13.

CELA Participation and Key Learnings

From July 8th to July 11th in Golden, Colorado, Representative Joseph attended the Clean Energy Legislative Academy, hosted by the Center for the New Energy Economy (CNEE). The academy convened state legislators to explore policy strategies for the national transition to a clean energy economy. The curriculum centered on themes directly relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Sessions examined grid modernization, supply and demand economics, and the deployment of emerging clean energy technologies to ensure reliable and affordable energy for all citizens.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): A significant focus was placed on the transformation of transportation systems to be more sustainable, accessible, and equitable.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The representative emphasized that a core takeaway from the academy was the critical need to center policy on people, particularly those from marginalized and underserved communities, to ensure they are not left behind in the energy transition.

Legislative Priorities for Colorado’s Sustainable Future

Informed by the CELA experience, Representative Joseph has announced a legislative agenda for the upcoming session that prioritizes an inclusive and sustainable energy future for Colorado. The initiatives are designed to address key challenges in the energy and transportation sectors through the lens of the SDGs.

Primary Legislative Initiatives

1. Transit Equity Legislation: This initiative directly supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The goal is to increase access to affordable public transportation, thereby reducing single-occupancy vehicle use, lowering carbon emissions, and enhancing mobility for working families and underserved communities.
2. Transmission Infrastructure Enhancement: This priority aligns with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). Strengthening Colorado’s transmission grid is critical for reliably delivering clean energy from generation sources to population centers, ensuring the stability and efficiency of the state’s power system.

Overarching Commitment to Equity and Sustainability

Representative Joseph’s policy framework is built upon a commitment to achieving a multifaceted clean energy transition that balances environmental, economic, and social objectives.

• Advancing SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): A central tenet of her platform is ensuring the clean energy transition benefits all Coloradans, including working families, rural communities, and those disproportionately affected by environmental and economic burdens.
• Promoting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The agenda recognizes that the transition to clean energy is an opportunity to build resilient local economies and foster sustainable economic growth.
• Upholding SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): The representative has reiterated that the transition must result in affordable utility bills and consumer protection, making clean energy accessible to every household.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • The article focuses on the “transition to a clean energy economy,” “clean energy solutions,” and ensuring an “inclusive, affordable energy future.” It explicitly mentions “solar panels and wind farms” and the goal of making utility bills affordable, which are central tenets of SDG 7.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • The text highlights the need for “grid modernization” and plans to work on “strengthening Colorado’s transmission infrastructure.” This directly relates to building resilient and sustainable infrastructure, a key component of SDG 9.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • A primary theme is ensuring the energy transition is equitable. The article repeatedly emphasizes including “those too often excluded from the conversation,” “working families, rural communities, or those who already carry the heaviest burdens,” and “underserved communities,” which aligns with the goal of reducing inequality.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The article discusses plans for “transit equity legislation” to create “accessible, affordable public transportation.” This initiative aims to get people “out of their cars,” reducing emissions and expanding mobility, which are key aspects of creating sustainable communities.

5. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • The article addresses climate action through its focus on “environmental stewardship,” plans to “decarbonize its transportation system,” and the overall goal of “reducing emissions” as part of the clean energy transition.

6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The Clean Energy Legislative Academy itself is an example of partnership, bringing together “a dynamic and diverse group of state legislators from across the country to exchange ideas.” The article also mentions the goal of advancing “bold, bipartisan clean energy solutions,” highlighting the importance of collaboration.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 7.1: Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.

   • This target is identified through the article’s emphasis on “affordable utility bills,” “equitable energy access,” and “consumer protection” to ensure the clean energy transition benefits everyone.

2. Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

   • This is connected to the discussion of a “clean energy economy,” the mention of “solar panels and wind farms,” and the overall goal to “decarbonize.”

3. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

   • This target is directly addressed by Rep. Joseph’s plan to work on “strengthening Colorado’s transmission infrastructure” and the focus on “grid modernization” to ensure clean energy can be “reliably delivered.”

4. Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all.

   • This is a central theme, reflected in the question, “who are we leaving behind in the discourse?” and the commitment to ensure the transition “doesn’t leave behind working families, rural communities, or those who already carry the heaviest burdens.”

5. Target 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all.

   • This is explicitly identified through the plan to prioritize “transit equity legislation designed to help get more Coloradans out of their cars and into accessible, affordable public transportation,” especially for “working families and underserved communities.”

6. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

   • Rep. Joseph’s commitment to introduce legislation for “transit equity” and strengthen energy infrastructure as a member of the “Energy and Environment Committee” demonstrates the integration of climate-related goals into state-level policy and planning.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Implied Indicator: Share of renewable energy in the total energy consumption (related to Target 7.2).

   • Progress can be measured by tracking the increase in energy generated from “solar panels and wind farms” relative to traditional sources as Colorado moves to “decarbonize.”

2. Implied Indicator: Affordability of energy and transportation (related to Targets 7.1 and 11.2).

   • Progress can be measured by monitoring “affordable utility bills” and the cost of “accessible, affordable public transportation” for consumers, particularly for “working families and underserved communities.”

3. Implied Indicator: Proportion of population with convenient access to public transport (related to Target 11.2).

   • The success of the “transit equity legislation” can be measured by the increase in the number of “Coloradans… in accessible, affordable public transportation” and the expansion of “mobility options.”

4. Implied Indicator: Total greenhouse gas emissions (related to Target 13.2).

   • Progress can be measured by tracking the success of efforts aimed at “reducing emissions” and to “decarbonize its transportation system.”

5. Implied Indicator: Investment in sustainable infrastructure (related to Target 9.1).

   • Progress can be measured by the resources allocated and work completed in “strengthening Colorado’s transmission infrastructure” and “grid modernization.”

4. Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: yellowscene.com