Take Action for Clean Energy Today!
We need your help! Four years ago, Colorado Springs Utilities took a big step toward a clean energy future by closing the Martin Drake coal plant and setting a 2029 retirement date for the Ray Nixon coal plant. They did that to meet a state law requiring it to reduce its CO2 emissions 80% by 2030. Now, however, Colorado Springs Utilities is proposing to exempt itself from that state law and walk back its commitment to retire the Ray Nixon plant - all without a concrete plan for when and how to retire that plant. In essence, Colorado Springs Utilities will be asking the state legislature to allow it to continue burning coal indefinitely - and push the rising costs and pollution impacts onto our community.
We are fighting back - and there are two quick and simple ways you can help:
- Take a moment to call our state legislators and let them know that you support clean anergy and want to keep Colorado Springs Utilities' feet to the fire. You can find contact information, background, and suggestions on what to say here. The legislative session is starting next week, so it's important to call them now.
- You can also sign our Clean Energy Petition to express your support. for clean energy - make sure to select “yes” if you want to hear about campaign events, updates, and other ways to get involved.
We're also excited to welcome a new organizer, Olivia West, to help keep the pressure on Colorado Spring Utilities. Olivia says "I am excited to be working with the Pikes Peak Group of the Sierra Club! I was previously organizing in Chicago to oppose a large gas utility rate hike, and I am incredibly passionate about implementing affordable, sustainable energy policy that actually works for everyone. This spring, I will be focused on building a local campaign to prevent the extension of the Nixon Power Plant closure deadline. This is part of a statewide effort to call on utilities and elected officials to chart an ambitious and responsible path toward a clean energy future."
Parks System Assessment Complete
The Colorado Springs Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (PRCS) has completed a Park System Assessment, the first phase of updating its Park System Master Plan (PSMP). The Master Plan is a long-range plan which will guide decisions about parks, trails, open spaces and programming for the next 10 to 15 years. The Department has scheduled a live presentation of the Assessment findings during the Colorado Springs City Council Work Session, which is open to the public on Monday, January 12, 2025, with the session starting at 9 a.m. People can attend either in person or online. For more information on attending the work session, visit The Colorado Springs City Website.
In coming weeks, the City will launch an online community vision survey which will provide residents with an opportunity to share their perspectives as the City works to create the Park System Master Plan draft document. Details on how to participate will be shared soon via @cospringsparks on all social media channels. People can also subscribe to the weekly PRCS newsletter to stay informed.
January News
Conservation Report
By Jim Lockhart
For updates on the group’s campaigns and issues, please click here!
Annual ‘Inning’
On January 29, 2026, the Pikes Peak Group will be holding their annual "Inning". An "Inning" is similar to an Outing, but we get together inside for an evening of fun, socializing and sharing our summer adventures! Bring a dish to share (we will provide beverages), your summer pictures, and your party hat! Looking forward to seeing you there. Please click here to register.
The Year in Wolves
By Judy Schulman
Rep. Lauren Boebert introduced the Pet and Livestock Protection Act at the beginning of 2025. The bill aims to delist gray wolves from the protections of the Endangered Species Act. The bill passed the House and was sent to the Senate. If approved, the bill would require delisting within 60 days of becoming law.
The bill has a crucial piece of highly concerning language: “Reissuance of the final rule under section 2 shall not be subject to judicial review.” This would prohibit challenges to delisting in federal court.
This bill would be a disaster for Colorado's wolves. Please contact your Senators and tell them to vote no on the Pet and Livestock Protection Act!
State wildlife agencies in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah have a Memorandum of Understanding with each other: wolves that cross state lines can be relocated back to the state they came from. The MOU does not exist with Wyoming, where wolves are treated as predators except in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Three wolves that wandered into Wyoming have been killed.
However, while government agencies have an agreement, the restriction of wolf movement has caused ire in the conservation community who say that restricting wolves to “political” boundaries prevent natural wolf movement and genetic dispersal.
On Oct. 10, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik sent then-Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis a letter saying that Colorado, in its efforts relocating wolves from British Columbia, was in violation of the Endangered Species Act.
In the letter, Nesvik said that wolves had to come from Northern Rocky Mountain states and not Canada and that any transfer of an endangered species over international borders was a federal offense. Colorado’s argument was that Canadian gray wolves, which are genetically similar to the wolves that historically occupied Colorado, are not endangered or listed as a species of concern in Canada.
In November the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 8-1 not to send its wolves to Colorado. Commissioner Lorna Smith cited a report showing a decline in wolves for the first time since their reintroduction to Washington, making them a poor candidate for relocation.
Though the commission denied the request from Colorado, they left open the possibility of “furnishing” wolves to Colorado in the future, should Washington wolves no longer be endangered in the state.
This leaves Colorado’s next source of wolves, as of the middle of December, up in the air.
Click here to read the full Alamosa Citizen article.
Group Executive Committee Election Results
The Pikes Peak Group Executive Committee Election was held in December 2025. The following candidates were elected to a two-year term:
- Dave Bryan
- Jane Ard-Smith
- Ann Gadwah
Congratulation to the winners!
If you're interested in serving on our Executive Committee, please reach out to the group!