Andy Colosimo Email & Phone Number

Colorado Springs, Co, Us

Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States

For more than 10 years, I have served as key point-of-contact contributing strategic legislative and political counsel to senior leadership on local, state, and federal legislative and regulatory matters. Provide recommendations and insight for critical business decisions reporting to CEO. ♦ Brief City Council Members, CEO, and senior executives on key legislative and political matters. Serve as company’s representative to City Council Work Sessions.♦ Oversee government affairs department including budget, staff, internal collaboration, to ensure alignment with corporate objectives.♦ Direct state and federal grant strategy program including outside contractors, strategy, budget, and compliance obligations.♦ Leverage expertise and impart strategic recommendations to senior internal leadership on critical Arkansas/Colorado River water delivery projects, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting efforts.♦ Provide key oversight on all political/legislative initiatives for greenhouse gas compliance requirements, advise on clean air permitting strategy for new natural gas electric generating units and advise on state and local environmental and compliance settlement agreements.♦ Serve as in-house lobbyist to manage state and federal legislative work building across all four utility services.♦ Build and maintain strong relationships with Colorado Congressional Delegation and state legislators for strategic lobbying efforts at state level and work closely with other utility companies to shape policies.♦ Effectively lobby on behalf of hydropower customers for federal relief to manage drought and power supply issues. ♦ Successfully lobbied Congress to secure federal funds for post-fire mitigation projects. ♦ Act as spokesperson for utility before Congress and Federal Agencies for legislation/regulations impacting coal, natural gas supplies, forest and watershed health, water supply, clean air/water issues, hydropower, and environmental rulemakings.

Throughout my tenure with this Utility, I have held a vast amount of responsibility and achieved a great deal of success for the organization. More duties and some of my proudest accomplishments are outlined below.♦ Lobby for low-income energy/water assistance and multiple compliance/safety programs to minimize risks/optimize reliability of resources.♦ Worked with Department of Defense agencies to develop energy and water resiliency projects and programs at local Air Force and Army installations. ♦ Negotiated with local and federal entities on repayment obligations associated with Bureau of Reclamation project components.♦ Successfully amended Colorado’s Renewable Energy statute to allow company’s hydroelectric resources to qualify as renewable energy. ✶Successfully negotiated amendment to federal legislation to allow forest thinning projects in Colorado’s Roadless Areas thus protecting company’s water rights and infrastructure in areas susceptible to wildfires.✶Coordinated lobbying efforts with Congressional Delegation to allow municipal utilities to receive direct payment from the Treasury Department for constructing qualifying renewable projects. The provision was included in the Inflation Reduction Act.✶Launched strategic grants program to secure state/federal funding for vital projects and initiatives.✶Co-founded several federal lobbying coalitions to advance company’s interests including a regional business alliance comprised of public and private entities to enhance the regions federal presence, a coalition of peer utilities to advance policies on greenhouse gas legislation and a coalition of agriculture, water and timber interests to shape federal forestry policy.

I have served on this Board for 10+ years where we are focused on directing strategic planning legislative priorities to Congress and lobby on behalf of utility companies to align mutually beneficial policies.♦ Work with state-wide entities to advance priorities by advocating and presenting compelling cases for positive and impactful change.✶Transform Federal Affairs Committee by establishing forum to debate policy matters. Create outreach program to engage participants in collaboration with congressional staff.✶Testify on behalf of Colorado Springs Utilities before Colorado General Assembly advocating key federal legislation that impacts western water providers.✶Appointed by Board to serve as President of Colorado Water Congress comprised of elected officials, lawyers, and municipal/agricultural water leaders across the state.

I serve on this committee as an advocate for Colorado Springs Utilities efforts with APPA, LPPC, CAMU, CREDA, APGA and AGA leveraging various trade associations to optimize ROI and ensure consistent policy messaging. ♦ Partner with electric/gas trade associations to lobby congressional staff on clean air and water legislation, Federal Power Act (FPA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and Endangered Species Act (ESA) reforms with meticulous attention to detail.♦ Devise legislation to advance business objectives in partnership with DoD and energy outreach focused on critical electrical infrastructure.♦ Lobby to ensure North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)/Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) compliance, reliability, and physical/cybersecurity align with utility practices.♦ Leverage expertise to successfully compose multi-state Colorado River messaging to support environmental programs and preserve access to federal hydropower and critical transmountain diversions.✶Contribute key insights on several electrical transmission tax issues to secure tax incentives.✶Integral in efforts advocating for climate change legislation and regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.✶Lobby with several federal agencies to ensure accessibility to gas/coal resources.

I review allotment of project water to be sold, eligibility policy, and all pertinent related issues for organization that protects and manages the Frying Pan-Arkansas project. This project is a transmountain diversion which supplies Southeastern Colorado with supplemental water supply for irrigation, municipal and industrial uses, hydroelectric power generation, and recreational opportunities for its residents. ♦ Integral member of Executive committee and Resource and Engineering Planning Committee conducting comprehensive reviews of Engineering and Legal issues directly affecting District and project.♦ Appointed by Pueblo County District Court Judge to serve as Director of District from El Paso County.

I have been instrumental in lobbying on water issues and key Bureau of Reclamation projects representing Colorado Springs Utilities on this Board of Directors of this association. ♦ Provide briefings to Congressional Staff on western water issues impacting endangered species, watershed health, and climate change.✶Recognized for exceptional leadership. Presented with National Water Resources Association (NWRA) Presidents Award.✶Appointed by Colorado Water Congress Board to serve as one of three Colorado delegates on NWRA Board, a non-profit association of agricultural and municipal water providers dedicated to the conservation, enhancement, and efficient management of water across 16 states.✶Selected by National Water Resources Association (NWRA) President to serve as Chair of Environmental Committee and Co-Chair of Forest Health Committee.