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Colorado is known for its iconic landscapes — vast plains and expansive skies, snowcapped peaks and rushing rivers, high deserts and red sandstone cliffs — and for its unparalleled outdoor...

Change is the only constant on the Colorado River. Its water carved the Grand Canyon, its flows fluctuate seasonally, its path is altered by a network of dams and pipelines,...

Time in nature wouldn’t be the same without the countless native wildlife species you encounter along the way. A scenic hike in the West would not be complete without songbird...

Healthy rivers are central to New Mexico’s environment, communities, culture, and economy. Water nourishes the bosque – the riverside forest that serves as an oasis in the desert for painted...

Electricity powers our everyday lives. We depend on our electric utility company to provide affordable, reliable, and clean electricity to our homes and businesses. But the energy landscape is rapidly...

In the first installment of this series, we looked at what Integrated Resource Plans (IRP) are, what they’re composed of , and why the IRP process is one of the...

Most of us living in the Interior West have experienced the effects of climate change firsthand. Phoenix, the region’s largest city, broiled for 113 consecutive days at temperatures 100-degrees or...

The time for action is now — many legislative sessions are already underway across our region. At state legislatures around the West, we’re making sure that climate solutions are passed,...

The election has been decided.  

Now what?   

If you voted, you may feel like your job is done or that there’s nothing else you can do. But there...

The impacts of the oil and gas industry on people, wildlife, and the environment are myriad.  

Think of the roads and infrastructure surrounding extraction sites that cause habitat loss...

July 22, 2024, marked a somber milestone: the hottest day ever measured . On that date the average global temperature was approximately 62.9 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking the previous record which...

You have more control over your electricity bill than you might think. The cost to generate electricity fluctuates throughout the day, and so does the cost to use that energy....

To the average Coloradan, what matters most about energy policy is receiving reliable, affordable heat and power – and via resources that don’t continue to pollute the air we breathe....

While it may not have always been headline news in Colorado, the environment came out as a major winner this session thanks in part to WRA’s staff who testified, drafted...

In the past five years in the Interior West, we’ve seen:   

• 8 million acres of land protected.  
• $700 million invested in transportation electrification.    
• 100 million tons of...

And do they represent your interests?

In our political ecosystem, there are many people in charge of representing you and your interests at the federal, state, and local levels. A...

Reduce, reuse, recycle: It’s a mantra we learned as kids and is one of the core environmental principles. The phrase may make you think of bringing your own grocery bags...

If NV Energy has its way, Northern Nevada families will owe the power company $44.40 every month before they even flip on a light switch. The company’s proposed restructuring of...

For more than a century, disputes over the Colorado River have unfolded in boardrooms far removed from its wild rapids and red rock canyons. Early agreements treated the river as...

Colorado is rapidly losing its most iconic asset: nature. Nearly one-third of Colorado’s lands have already been altered by human development – placing Colorado at the highest percentage of natural areas already lost...

This legislative session, New Mexico positioned itself as a leader in the Interior West, taking major strides in conservation , outdoor equity, and clean energy.    

New Mexico fully...

Navigating an election year can feel like trying to find your way in the dark – confusing, a little frightening, and seemingly endless.

With our busy lives and responsibilities, it...

As legislative sessions are in full swing across our region , WRA is working to ensur e that our proposed climate solutions are passed , enacted , and have a...

The effects of climate change are all around us. 2023 was the hottest year in recorded history . Arizona experienced so many days of record heat that heat-related deaths soared...

Outdoor equity funds are a key mechanism to increase access to public lands and recreation. These stated-based grant programs offer resources to organizations that are working to increase access to...

Arizona utility Salt River Project’s (SRP) is in the process of updating its sustainability goals, which will shape its overall environmental impact over the coming decade.  Now is a critical...

As the West pushes toward its ambitious climate goals, the delicate balance between clean energy development and land conservation has become paramount. While WRA and environmental advocates have passed legislation...

This fall, WRA welcomed Chas Robles and Martha Records to our board of directors. Our board is one of our chief assets, providing exemplary leadership to further the mission of...

Many of us rarely pause to think about where our electricity comes from – we flip a switch, and the light floods a room, or we plug in an appliance...

Many states in the Interior West have ambitious goals to bring their greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. This is undoubtedly a paradigm shift, and not one that can...

WRA is excited to welcome back Erin Overturf as our Clean Energy Director. With almost 15 years of experience in energy policy, she is one of the most respected advocates...

Climate change, drought, and growing water demands have pushed the Colorado River to the brink. The century-old foundation governing the river is crumbling. Water managers, elected officials, and the federal...

Since his passing on June 6, 2023, the WRA community has been mourning the loss and celebrating the legacy of Charles Wilkinson – a titan of the American West.

After...

Picture the scene. You’re in the market for a new car. Last year was a rollercoaster ride for gas prices, and a nasty surprise hit your wallet in January when...

The 2023 legislative sessions were a marathon of drafting, advocating, negotiating, testifying, and amending, but across our region, WRA saw significant milestones and successes in our statehouses. WRA staff engaged...

We’re at a tipping point for Colorado’s water future. While some are encouraged by a wet year and higher-than-average snowpack , in our boom-or-bust precipitation cycles, the experts wisely recognize...

In part one of our blog series on high utility bills , we focused on the factors behind the dramatic spike in gas bills for the average customer in Colorado...

What is Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT)? 

The ACT rule would require manufacturers of trucks, buses, and vans to ensure that a certain percentage of their new sales are zero-emission vehicles....

The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) is a public-interest organization promoting greater energy efficiency and clean...

In February, Colorado College and the State of the Rockies project released their annual Conservation in the West Poll highlighting, from years of research, the enduring Western desire for conservation...

If you're reading this, you likely have a good understanding of the immense challenges ahead for the places we love in the West. Climate change is not just bringing warmer...

Three types of policies are needed: clean truck standards, purchasing incentives, and charging infrastructure programs.

Personal electric vehicles have entered the mainstream — the ads are seemingly everywhere, and you...

WRA is embarking on bigger and bolder goals than ever before to fight climate change. We believe this boldness requires a brand identity that reflects our ambitious plans, pragmatic path...

As WRA’s Digital Engagement Manager, I’m lucky to have a front row seat to our organization’s important work. Recently, I took a deep dive into our 30-year history — and what...

Did you know that 50% of urban water is used outdoors? Most of this water is used to irrigate “non-functional" turf – meaning the only use is for aesthetics that...

This fall, WRA welcomed Michelle Campbell, Chris Robinson, and Felipe Vieyra to our board of directors. Our board is one of our chief assets, providing exemplary leadership to further the...

Kind Design creates with intention to spread kindness towards the earth and others, through clothing and design.

Not only is Kind Design a sponsor of WRA, but they are an...

Protecting a future where both people and ecosystems are more resilient against climate change means finding solutions that enable communities to thrive in balance. Across the West, one of the...

My family history is steeped in water. My father was a water master for the Elephant Butte Irrigation District in the Las Cruces area, and my sister is currently a...

States across the West joined other states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, in submitting National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) plans to the federal government in...

At WRA, our sponsors play a critical role in supporting the important work we need to do for our climate future. And as one of our sponsors, we want to...

Western Resource Advocates, a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization serving seven states in the Interior West, today announced that Kathryne Grove has been named as its first-ever vice president of equity...

The 2022 legislative sessions recently wrapped up across the West! Our team of experts was busy this year, drafting, tracking and advocating for bills that would allow states to tackle...

Fighting climate change is hard. It is a global problem embedded in our economy, technology, and politics. WRA does its part to address climate change in the Interior West by...

Intro

My name is Anna Evans. I was a Transmission Policy Intern for Western Resource Advocates (WRA) during the spring 2022. I worked remotely from Golden, Colo., while making a...

What is Advanced Clean Cars II and what does it do?  

Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) is a proposed policy that states can start adopting in 2022 to...

03/07/2022 UPDATE: All three of WRA's priority bills passed Utah's legislature and are on track to be signed into law by the Governor.

On the heels of a year marked...

As we put 2021 in the rear-view mirror and look forward to 2022, it is important to take a moment to appreciate all we’ve accomplished. The past year certainly was...

It’s been a rare moment in history as the world’s attention has been focused on climate change over the past few weeks. Here at home, the U.S. Congress passed an...

On behalf of Western Resource Advocates staff and supporters, we’d like to say thank you and wish a fond farewell to three long-standing members of our board of directors —...

Sustainability has guided SCARPA’s way of doing business for decades. So much so,...

Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) is in the process of obtaining approval from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) for a transportation electrification plan that would provide...

The Start

My name is Daniel Garcia, and I’m a recent college graduate who just completed a virtual internship with the conservation nonprofit, Western Resource Advocates (WRA). I first became...

Artwork by Hundred Storms Creative

The Colorado River is over-tapped and drying out. Climate change, a multi-decade megadrought, and demand that continues to outpace supply are coming to a head...

The Interior West Needs to Accelerate the Adoption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicles

Electrifying our transportation system is critical to addressing climate change. Adoption of electric vehicles for personal...

WRA works at the state level because that’s where some of the most effective decisions to influence climate policy are made. State-level policies play a major role in reducing carbon...

A ZEV standard is a proven method of curbing pollution from the transportation sector, which has become the leading source of greenhouse gas pollution nationwide. Colorado adopted a ZEV standard in...

It strikes me as funny that I find myself writing a blurb about planned giving and thinking about where all my worldly assets will go after I’m gone. This seems...

Spending time outdoors in nature can be healing and is a key advantage of living in the West, yet access to outdoor experiences is not and historically has not been...

The building and industrial sectors are a large piece of the puzzle in addressing climate change. Direct combustion of gas, petroleum, and coal in these homes and businesses produced 17%...

As migratory species of wildlife begin to move around the West with the shift in seasons, wildlife-vehicle collisions can cause a major problem for people and for animals throughout our...

This blog was co-authored by Joe Halso of Sierra Club and Miles Muller &   Max Baumhefner of NRDC.

Xcel Energy will deploy approximately 20,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations...

California late this past summer experienced rolling blackouts – something the state hadn’t seen since 2001. Two decades ago, the outages were due to market manipulation that influenced energy prices...

Whether they’re on the Front Range or the West Slope, Coloradans know that water is essential for life; they value healthy rivers and streams. This election, as a 20-year drought...

The award is a testament to the work that WRA and the Water for Arizona Coalition have done over the years to improve water conservation in the state and protect...

In a new report, Conservation Colorado and Western Resource Advocates lay out a path for Colorado to protect and conserve 30% of its lands and waters by 2030.

Like much...

With a backdrop of wildfires raging across the West, Western Resource Advocates convened a discussion on Aug. 25 at the Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit about the impacts of climate change...

This Trump administration rule proposal to reduce fuel-economy standards, released March 31, would be a step backward. It would harm air quality at a time when Westerners are more aware...

Last year, as Colorado lawmakers considered a legislative bill called Colorado’s Climate Action Plan, people from across the state traveled to the capitol to tell lawmakers why they believe Colorado must...

Water conservation at the state and local level is essential in Colorado

Coloradans know that in our semi-arid state, water conservation is vital to maximize limited supplies and meet all...

Key Findings on a Transition to Renewable Energy:

• A strong majority of likely Utah voters — 59 percent to 18 percent— believe that a transition away from coal-fired power to...

WRA made the installation of Salt Lake City’s first-ever near-road air quality monitor a top priority. WRA’s Utah experts understood that data from a monitor is a critical step to...

Even after this year’s heavy snowpack, the Colorado River Basin states are experiencing increasingly dry conditions. The Colorado River and its tributaries are more stressed than ever due to over-use...

Agriculture is the largest user of water in Colorado, but as Colorado’s cities and suburbs have grown, municipal water managers in need of more water for new residents have increasingly...

How did you first hear about the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies (as WRA was then called), and what made you want to start working for the organization?...

These ugly fish might be funny-looking at first, but the Colorado River’s four longest living native fish species are also its most endangered.

Hardnosed survivors, they all evolved in the...

The West can lead the transition to a zero-emission transportation future

State programs that support the increased use of electric vehicles have been gaining ground across the United States in...

The Colorado River provides drinking water to over 40 million people across seven US states and two countries, but humans are not the only ones who depend on its precious...

Here in the West, we have unparalleled opportunities to explore and enjoy vast, beautiful landscapes, and to visit unique local communities and cultures. From majestic high peaks to deep meandering...