Coloradso Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne hiked Boulder County’s Sawhill Ponts Trail Saturday with State Rep. Faith Winter, Lafayette Mayor Christine Berg, and over a dozen members of Colorado Mom’s Know Best, a group aiming to spotlight the connection between clean air and children’s health.
“Coloradans, especially our kids, shouldn’t have to worry about whether the air they’re breathing is clean when enjoying our great outdoors,” said Lt. Gov. Lynne in a news release. “All kids should have clean air to breathe so that they can be the healthiest they can be, which is why Colorado continues to implement cost-effective strategies to diversify our energy mix, strengthen our economy and lower our greenhouse gas emissions.”
According to the Colorado Mom’s know Best news release:
Air pollution is a major contributor to childhood asthma, a serious illness that accounts for more hospitalizations than any other chronic illness. One out of 10 Colorado kids have asthma, more than 135,000 kids across the state, and over 40% of those reported missing at least one day of school last year due to the condition.
“As a public health expert and a mother, the Lt. Governor understands just how important it is to implement common sense policies like the Clean Power Plan to clean up the air and protect kids’ health,” said Jen Clanahan, Colorado Moms Know Best head mom. “Moms feel really good about finding ways to collaborate with the state on renewable energy projects like the Rush Creek wind farm to ensure our kids have the clean air they need to run, jump and play outdoors.”
Colorado has been a leader in renewable energy. In 2004, Coloradans passed the first state ballot initiative to establish a renewable energy standards; 29 states and the District of Columbia have since adopted similar standards. In the years since, Colorado has added tens of thousands of clean tech jobs with an average salary of $78,000, according to the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce’s 2014 Energy Cluster report.
In order to decrease dirty air and the resulting respiratory illnesses in children, the moms currently are working to promote implementation of the Clean Power Plan and support the development of the Rush Creek wind farm in Northeast Colorado.