Rural America at the Forefront: How CDI is Leading the Charge in Climate Solutions and Community Empowerment

By Portia Cook, Media Director, CDI

September 12, 2024

On August 22, 2024, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Aspen’s Doerr-Hosier Building hosted the Energizing Climate Solutions forum. This sold-out event convened policymakers, experts, and community practitioners to explore Colorado’s role in fostering climate resilience and economic development. The forum underscored the importance of rural, resort, and transitioning energy communities, where climate innovation and economic recovery intersect in meaningful ways.

CDI’s Role in the Clean Energy Transition

Dave Munk, representing the Climate Democracy Initiative (CDI), attended the event and highlighted its significance in advancing climate-focused leadership.

"It was one of the best conferences I've ever been to," Munk said. "The organizers did a fantastic job assembling speakers, and the room was packed. The high-tech setting matched the tone of leadership and contemporary issues being discussed."

CDI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to integrating climate and democratic solutions, found that the forum’s themes aligned with its CV30 campaign. This initiative supports community-led processes in which local stakeholders define their own priorities and strategies for clean energy implementation.

The CV30 campaign operates under a central philosophy: Rural and resort communities must be active leaders in the clean energy transition rather than passive recipients of externally imposed solutions.

Rural America’s Role in Climate Leadership

Although rural communities may appear geographically distant from urban policy centers, they are on the front lines of the clean energy revolution. Their vast open lands make them ideal locations for renewable energy projects, such as solar farms and wind turbines. However, these communities face unique barriers, as Munk said.

"Rural communities often don’t have the resources or staff to access grants, yet they are the ones bearing the environmental impacts of extractive industries. This creates a roller-coaster economy that needs stabilizing," Munk said.

To address these challenges, CDI’s CV30 campaign seeks to redefine how these communities participate in renewable energy transitions. Rather than merely approving external energy projects, CV30 encourages communities to ask "What does our community need to thrive"?

This shift in approach ensures that rural stakeholders retain decision-making power, rather than being subjected to top-down mandates from corporations or government entities.

Ensuring Rural Communities Have a Seat at the Table

Munk, who has extensive experience working with rural and resort communities, emphasized the importance of including these areas in national clean energy strategies.

"Rural America is where large-scale renewable energy generation will be sited," Munk said. "These communities are central to our clean energy future, but they need a seat at the table. The CV30 campaign is about making sure they have a voice, resources, and the ability to negotiate for their own long-term success."

The forum’s emphasis on innovation directly relates to CDI’s mission. Munk highlighted emerging geothermal projects in Colorado’s mountain towns as an example of creativity flourishing in resort areas.

However, Munk acknowledged the stark disparities between wealthier resort communities and less-resourced rural areas.

"Resort towns, with their high visibility and access to capital, often lead the way in adopting new technologies, while rural areas struggle to keep up," Munk said.

To bridge this gap, CDI facilitates access to funding, policy resources, and technical expertise—ensuring that rural communities not only participate in clean energy projects but are positioned to lead them.

Empowering Communities in Clean Energy Development

The forum’s message was clear: Energy projects should be community-driven rather than externally imposed.

Chris Mangus, a speaker from The Nature Conservancy, reinforced this idea.

"Communities want renewable energy projects to happen with them, not to them," Mangus said.

This principle aligns with CDI’s approach in Colorado’s rural regions—prioritizing local leadership and equity in clean energy transitions.

The Justice40 Initiative and Rural Equity in Climate Funding

As discussions at the forum expanded to federal climate policy, Munk referenced the Biden Administration’s Justice40 initiative, which directs 40% of climate-related benefits to historically disadvantaged communities.

CDI’s CV30 campaign ensures that rural areas—often marginalized in national conversations—benefit from these programs.

"We’re trying to flip the narrative," Munk said. "So that rural communities can extract benefits from these projects that align with their own goals and values."

The Energizing Climate Solutions Forum: A Call to Action

The Energizing Climate Solutions event was not merely a discussion platform—it was a call to action.

For CDI, the forum reaffirmed that rural climate leadership is both urgent and necessary. As the climate crisis intensifies, the need for localized, community-driven solutions grows more pressing.

The CV30 campaign serves as a scalable model for equipping rural communities with the strategic tools and financial resources to prosper amid this transition.

Looking Ahead: CDI’s Commitment to Rural Climate Solutions

The forum’s impact was undeniable.

"The leadership shown by Colorado in advancing climate solutions is unmatched," Munk said. "We’re on the cusp of something big here, and CDI is proud to be part of it."

By amplifying rural voices and ensuring they have decision-making authority, CDI is shaping a future where rural communities are not just adapting to clean energy transitions but leading them.