From Grassroots to Capitol: 2026 Policy Impact & 2027 Policy Horizon

Join us for a stimulating evening of conversation about what we accomplished together in the 2026 legislative session and what's coming up in 2027.

CRES is teaming up with our friends at Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA), PSR Colorado, Clean Energy Action (CEA), Empower Our Future (EOF), E2, and WRISE Colorado for a recap of this year's impacts and a look at legislation we're watching for the 2027 Legislative Session.

Hear the latest and greatest from our amazing powerhouse speakers:

• Lauren Swain, CRES & PSR
• KC Becker, COSSA
• Susan Nedell, E2
• Jim Gilbert, Empower Our Future

We'll chat about policies for coal plants, data centers, energy siting, energy tax exemptions, and much more.

Join in person at Odell Brewing Five Points Brewhouse on Thursday, December 3rd, or online via the livestream link. In-person attendees: arrive at 6 PM for networking, snacks, and refreshments.

The livestream options will be added soon.

The main presentation and livestream will begin at 6:30 PM.

Lauren Swain
Lauren Swain is program director for PSR Colorado, the Colorado chapter of the national group Physicians for Social Responsibility. Guided by the values and expertise of health professionals, PSR Colorado offers evidence-based education and advocacy to protect humanity from the climate crisis and exposure to toxic pollutants and radioactivity, and to increase access to sustainable energy solutions. For over 15 years, Ms. Swain has worked with organizations and political campaigns to reform Colorado's oil and gas, air quality, and climate policies. As a lifelong human rights advocate, Ms. Swain has also produced several multilingual refugee orientation videos for resettlement programs in Colorado and Arizona.

KC Becker
KC Becker is the CEO of the Colorado Solar and Storage Association and Executive Director of the COSSA Institute. Most recently, she was President Biden’s appointee to lead Region 8 of the Environmental Protection Agency, overseeing EPA’s activities in 6 western states.
Prior to that, she completed 4 terms in the Colorado legislature, culminating as the Speaker of the House. As a state legislator, KC led a variety of major environmental efforts, including laws to reform the oil and gas industry, create statewide greenhouse gas reduction requirements, and update the Public Utility Commission’s authorizing statute.

Susan Nedell
Susan Nedell is E2’s Senior Western Advocate. Susan has more than 20 years of experience in executive entrepreneurship within the cleantech, aerospace, and software industries. Most recently, she has worked as an industry analyst contributing to Pike Research’s Smart Transportation and Smart Buildings practices. Prior to this, she was a senior manager at Eetrex, an early-stage engineering company specializing in the development of chargers and inverter-chargers for electric trucks, and Li-ion battery systems for stationary storage. In 1992, Nedell co-founded Wyndemere, an aerospace product design and engineering firm specializing in flight data analysis, decision support systems, and aircraft electronics, which was recognized by the Inc 500 list in 1998. Nedell began her career as a planetary geologist at the SETI Institute and NASA Ames Research Center, and holds a BA in geology from the University of Vermont, an MS in geology from San Jose State University, and a graduate certificate in water engineering and management from the University of Colorado.

Jim Gilbert
Jim Gilbert is a retired, innovative and accomplished Consultant and former R&D Technical Fellow with Medtronic. He has over 40 years of electronic product design and development experience working across functional and disciplinary lines from locomotives and noise cancellation to medical devices. He has designed and developed new technologies and products from ideation through FDA clearance and beyond. He is an inventor on nearly 60 US patents and is an author or co-author of over a dozen peer-reviewed publications.

In his retirement, he has been trying to enjoy more fly fishing and outdoor activities with his wife and family, when not being interrupted by former clients. … Well, that and his sense of obligation to give back to the community he has called home for nearly 40 years! That sense of “paying it forward” sparked his journey in recent years into understanding his community’s relationship with the grid.