When Conservation Colorado talks, Democrats, and a few Republicans, listen.

The 22,000 members whose issue is the environment have a lot of clout in the statehouse, helping elect 54 of the 60 statehouse candidates it endorsed last year.

Conservation Colorado spent $1.3 million on digital ads, mailers, paid canvasses and ads for TV and radio. Get the picture?

So the importance of the message from executive director Pete Maysmith Wednesday rose above the din of most political chatter on the first day of the legislative session. And Conservation Colorado’s priorities on the environment, you can bet, will be heard.

“We’re feeling positive and optimistic about this year’s session, and look forward to making progress with supporters on both sides of the aisle to protect what we love about Colorado: our way of life,” Maysmith said of the environment. “The election hasn’t changed what we plan to do here, and no matter who’s in charge in Washington, D.C., we must clean up our air, conserve our water, protect our lands, and ensure that every person in Colorado lives in a healthy environment.”

Maysmith cited four legislative priorities. Write this down:

Clean energy jobs

Transportation and growth

Clean air and children’s health

Sustainability and waste

 There’s your environmental legislative playbook for 2017, folks.