On Monday, the Lawyers for Good Government network released a resource guide for Colorado municipalities seeking to reach a goal of 100% renewable energy.

Program director Jillian Blanchard explained that “through these comprehensive state environmental profiles, and other resources Lawyers for Good Government is developing, government leaders can be armed with the necessary information to start forging an achievable path to reaching 100% renewable energy before it’s too late, while also helping the many NGOs, like Sierra Club and Rocky Mountain Institute, identify better strategies for increasing renewable sources across the country.”

The organization consists of 120,000 legal advocates who provide expertise pro bono to municipalities in the legal areas of energy, land use and franchise agreements.

Colorado’s profile calls the state constitution’s home rule provisions “powerful” in giving localities the ability to govern themselves. “While the laws are clear on municipalities’ ability to establish their own utilities and avoid most [Public Utilities Commission] regulation,” the profile reads, “the contours of this power have been interpreted by Colorado’s courts. Notably, in order not to be subject to PUC authority, a municipal utility must only serve its citizens.”

There are 29 municipal utilities in Colorado. Aspen uses 100% renewable energy, mostly through wind and hydropower. Glenwood Springs joined that category in the summer of 2019.