2018 In Review

It’s officially 2019 and we’re reflecting on what’s to come. Maybe it’s the year you send your project, run that marathon or ride that line.

We’re also reflecting on 2018 as it fully closes out. At times 2018 felt a bit rough––it definitely tested our resolve––but it was a year with some significant wins that remind us of the strength of our community and the importance of our purpose.

2018 was a year of sizable impact for POW thanks in large part to the help of our members, volunteers, partners and friends. From launching the POW Action Fund, our sister organization dedicated to turning the passionate outdoor community into climate voters, to reaching more than 14,000 students with our Hot Planet Cool Athlete and College Speaker Series programs, here’s a snapshot of some of the successes we’ve had this year:

• We engaged 580,997 people in the election process (ahem, that’s over half a MILLION people!) by registering and pledging voters, then providing them the tools needed to make informed decisions at the polls, we were proud to see so many climate-friendly candidates elected to office!
• While the midterm elections held captive a majority of POW’s energy, we’re proud to have also had a hand in a range of policy victories: Colorado’s adoption of low and zero emission car standards, Xcel Energy’s commitment to providing zero-carbon electricity by 2050, and Nevada’s commitment to expand clean energy in their state.
  In February, we published “The Economic Contributions of Winter Sports in a Changing Climate,” a follow up to our 2012 economic report which furthers our understanding of how warming temperatures have impacted the industry since 2001. The report saw coverage in major publications such as NPR, Politico, US News and CNN.
• POW is fortunate to work with an incredible group of highly talented athletes, artists and scientists who help us get the word out. In 2018, we added 15 new alliance members to a list that now includes notable names such as Olympic Gold-Medalist Jessie Diggins, renowned trail runners Anton Krupicka and Clare Gallagher, and AMGA President and guide Angela Hawse.
• Talking the talk: We trained 47 members of our alliance on how to effectively and accurately communicate about climate and provide their followers with the tools they need to also become climate advocates.
• It’s no secret that climate change impacts more than just our winters, so we proudly launched POW Trail, a focused group of our athlete alliance which unifies and amplifies the voice of the trail running community on climate change.
• The word is getting out! Since the beginning of 2018, we have nearly doubled the number of members that make up the POW family. That’s 5,766 lovers of the outdoors, who just like you, are turning their passion into purpose. Our members make what we do possible.
• POW has always punched above its weight class, but this year we have also put on a few pounds. Our Boulder, Colorado office has grown to 11 full-time employees who dedicate long, yet fun and rewarding hours to the climate cause that we all believe in. And it doesn’t stop there; we expect to add a couple more employees in 2019. Bigger team = bigger punch.

It’s already January and we’re hitting the ground running. The midterms brought us a new political landscape and our goal is to keep key policy initiatives moving forward at the state level while also advancing the conversation on federal action in D.C.

Look for exciting things to come in Colorado and Nevada, among a few other states. We’ll be focusing on initiatives that increase renewables, limit carbon emissions and help catalyze a transition to low and zero emissions vehicles. Our grassroots network will be a high priority in 2019 and we’ll double down on providing training opportunities for our volunteers and activism tools to our members. We hope you’ll help.

From everyone at POW, we wish you a happy new year and from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your continued support.