Community Economic Localization (Colorado)

Statment of Intent

Collective Commitment Towards a Healthy, Sustainable, Roaring Fork Valley:

The Roaring Fork Valley is a wonderful place to live. We have a strong and vibrant sense of community, extraordinary natural surroundings, and a wealth of creative and committed individuals and institutions. We know that the future holds challenges, and that change is inevitable. As we strive to meet the challenges of the future it is our obligation to protect, preserve and enhance those qualities that define the essential character of our town.

We are dependent on cheap, non-renewable, fossil fuel energy. This has local environmental and social, as well as, international political and economic consequences. In the face of imminent global warming and the economic disruptions that will accompany the peaking of world oil production, we must reconsider how we live, work, build, travel, ship goods, and provide for the basic necessities of life.

Food, fuel, clothing, building materials and vehicles are almost always shipped here from elsewhere. Burning coal generates our electricity. Most of the food in our supermarkets is dependent on energy-intensive pesticides and fertilizers. Our cars need gasoline and our houses, natural gas. To become sustainable and more stable, we are reducing our dependence on non-renewable energy. The Town of Carbondale recently passed the Energy Plan as a response to these issues.

In light of these facts, we are working towards "localizing" our valley's economy. We are transitioning by locally producing more of the food and energy that we need locally. We are creating new businesses that serve our common needs, provide meaningful employment, and keep more of our dollars in the local economy. We can work to shorten supply chains by collaborating with our regional neighbors. We can create compact, efficient towns and we can build efficient, sustainable buildings. We encourage use of low carbon transportation options. We can preserve and revitalize farms and ranches that grow crops and livestock. We can work to assure a secure and sustainable future for Carbondale.

To make this vision a reality, we invite the people of the Roaring Fork Valley to learn why and how we can reorganize our economy, and then add your ideas and action creating an even more beautiful, healthy and secure community. In the coming months, a series of events, news articles, reports and forums will provide opportunities to learn more about these challenges and solutions.

For more information about CEL, please contact the Group Coordinator,
Roxana Duval: roxanaduval [at] comcast.net.