Colorado Senate Minority Leader Lucia Guzman, D-Denver, announced Monday, Dec. 5, that state Sen. Matt Jones, D-Louisville, will serve in the newly established position of deputy minority leader for conservation, clean energy, and climate change.

In a news release making the announcement, Guzman noted that over the past decade, Colorado has taken a number of steps to become a nationwide leader in protecting its natural environment and promoting renewable energy. Those included setting an ambitious standard to increase renewable energy use, cut ozone emissions for cleaner air, create a comprehensive water plan, and establish the state’s Public Lands Day.

In the 2017 legislative session, defending Colorado’s progress in environmental conservation and clean energy will be a top priority for Senate Democrats.

“Conserving our natural environment is critical to maintaining the Colorado way of life and our continued economic growth as a state,” Guzman said in the release. “Colorado has been at the forefront of the new energy economy for many years, creating additional job opportunities and continuing to generate new dollars in economic activity. This is one of our main agenda items because we know this is what the majority of Coloradans want for the future of our state.”

In this spirit, Guzman established the deputy minority leader position, responsible for addressing job creation and the economic benefits of wind, solar and energy efficiency; working closely with representatives of all energy industries to find bipartisan solutions to the challenges facing our state’s energy future; meeting with stakeholders across the state to study the local impacts and benefits of conservation; and working with caucus members to design and recommend legislation to keep Colorado at the forefront of protecting its natural environment and combating climate change.

Jones said in the release that “Regardless of what direction the new administration wants to take our country in the areas of renewable energy or fighting climate change, Colorado needs to stay ahead of the curve as it has done for years.”

Jones added that it is “integral” to Colorado’s identity and brand as a state to have clean air, clean water, and protected public lands, “all of which are major reasons why we have such a booming tourism industry. I thank Minority Leader Guzman for her trust in naming me to this position, and I’m ready to get to work.”