Area of Focus
As the Clean Energy Manager, Parks Barroso leads the organization’s clean energy efforts in Colorado. He is an attorney advocating for policies that will accelerate decarbonization of the electricity sector, promote the efficient use of clean energy, and support increased electrification in Colorado. He represents WRA in front of regulatory bodies, including the Public Utilities Commission and Air Quality Control Commission, where he shares expert testimony, advises on rulemaking efforts, and helps to move the state toward its emission reduction goals.
Background
Before joining WRA in 2021, Parks was an assistant attorney general fellow at the Colorado Office of Attorney General where he represented numerous state environmental agencies, including the Colorado Energy Office and Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
His work in environmental protection has been decades in the making. A Colorado native, he grew up hiking and camping with his family in the foothills of the Rockies, cementing his love of the outdoors. And with age came a desire to protect these amazing lands for coming generations. Working in the energy sector specifically allows him to make real changes that protect the natural environment and ensure the West’s natural landscapes will thrive for decades to come.
Accomplishments
Parks played a critical role in the effort to eliminate coal-generated power in Colorado, helping to negotiate a settlement with the state’s largest energy producer to phase out existing coal plants and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 17 million tons. He was also deeply involved in rulemaking that will curb emissions from the natural gas and buildings sectors and drive the uptake of cleaner alternatives.
Education
- Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting, with Minors in Spanish and Political Science, from the College of Charleston Honors College
Favorite thing about the West
Hiking, camping, and pedaling in the mountains.
