What We Do

History

The Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado (SASCO) is based in Durango, Colorado and has roots stemming back to the 2002 La Plata County Community Summit. Through discussions at the 2003 Sustainable Economic Development Study Circle, and a breakout group at the 2004 Community Summit, the core group of SASCO members came together to address the idea of a “sustainability policy council.” Our founding Advisory Committee was nominated in December 2005.

By supporting projects with volunteer time for the first one-two years of their existence, we have helped incubate many local organizations and efforts like Four Core, Local First, Farm to School, the La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) Board of Directors Election Campaigns, Green Expo, as well as hosting many educations events, films, and documentaries. 

SASCO is now fiscally sponsored by Onward! A Legacy Foundation and we primarily track sustainability efforts with the Durango City Council, La Plata County, LPEA, and Durango School District. We also act as a sustainability HUB to connect and network organizations within the community through our local sustainability events calendar, the SASCO website, and monthly Green Drinks. 

We’d love to take on more projects and discussions with non-profits in the community or establish another Green umbrella event, or community summit. We also hope to add more social equity organizations to our partner list. Interested in being involved? Reach out!

Check out our recent monthly updates here: 

 

Durango Green Drinks

Durango Green Drinks offers a place for anyone in the area to come,  mingle, meet others and chat about local sustainability issues. This informal monthly get-together gives people the chance to learn about community sustainability issues, meet like-minded locals and simply have fun. Please join us on the last Thursday of each month at 11th Street Station from 5-7PM MT! 

Who can attend? Anyone! Business owners, sustainability professionals, community leaders, employers, job-seekers, singles, couples—anyone interested in a healthy planet and who wants to chat, mingle, and catch up with old and new friends! Bring a friend and come with conversation!

Questions? Please contact: durangogreendrinks@gmail.com

2026 Green Drinks Hosts and Calendar

January: NO GREEN DRINKS

February 26 – City of Durango, Sustainability Alliance of SW Colorado, Housing Solutions for the Southwest – HOWL – Housing Our Workforce Locally

March 26 – 4CORE – Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency, Wildfire Adapted Partnership, SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab

April 30 – Turtle Lake Refuge, Manna, Durango Farmers Market

May 28 – San Juan Mountains Association, American Rivers, Winter Wildlands Alliance

June 25 – Mountain Studies Institute, Grand Canyon Trust, Southwest Conservation Corps

July 30 – Durango Trails, Sierra Club Southwest Colorado Group, Bear Smart Durango

August 27 – Colorado Water Trust, The Hive, Bike Durango

September 24 – Environmental Center at Fort Lewis College, The Wilderness Society, San Juan Citizens Alliance

October 30 – Visit Durango, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Onward! A Legacy Foundation

November: NO GREEN DRINKS
December: NO GREEN DRINKS

Did You Miss Green Drinks?

Check out recordings here!

2025 Durango City Council Candidates

We asked the 2025 Durango City Council candidates to answer some questions related to sustainability issues in our community. Please see here for their answers which are listed in the order they were received.

2023 Durango City Council Election Questions/Answers

We asked the 2023 Durango City Council candidates to answer some questions related to sustainability issues in our community. Please see here for their answers which are listed in the order they were received.

2022 County Commissioner Election Questions/Answers

We asked the three 2022 La Plata County Commissioner candidates to answer some questions related to sustainability issues in our community. Please see here for their answers which are listed in the order they were received.

La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) Board of Directors Election Campaigns

SASCO’s worked to increase local control and responsible energy production by supporting progressive candidates running for membership to the publicly-elected La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) Board of Directors.

La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) Board members inform policy, rates, and practices within our regional electric cooperative, thereby playing a pivotal role in our energy future. We need to elect LPEA Board members that serve the best interests of you, the co-op members. This means:

  • Keeping your electricity bill low
  • Building the local economy with resources and energy generated locally instead of a Tri-State coal plant
  • Supporting clean air, water, and a safer climate

If you are interested in clean energy, increasing community resiliency, and increasing local control over, and responsible sources of, energy production benefiting our local economy, please get in touch with us on how you can help!

Want to learn more? San Juan Citizens Alliance, provides lots of information on their their website.

Did you know that less than 25% of our community turns out to vote in LPEA elections every year (elections are usually in the spring)? Let’s change that. We must elect an active, forward thinking LPEA Board of Directors in order for LPEA to unveil and pursue the best path to a less expensive, clean, and reliable energy future.