For some, November is a time to deepen and to celebrate gratitude and generosity, for ourselves and for one another. And in a year like this one, where there have been innumerable atrocities, events, and unravellings that have challenged these values, we know it’s more important than ever to ground in the shared power of community. We’re so excited and grateful to celebrate the generous actions of the November Climate Hero of the Month, Andrew Klooster!
Andrew has been the Colorado field advocate and an optical gas imaging (OGI) thermographer with Earthworks for five years. Earthworks and Andrew have taken the OGI camera, a technology used by the oil & gas industry itself, and turned it into a tool for public education and advocacy to protect people and our environment from fracking pollution. He has worked with local communities, investigative journalists, and local and state regulatory officials to document oil and gas pollution throughout the state of Colorado as well as in California, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. Prior to working with Earthworks, he held various roles with community-based nonprofits focused on outdoor education, watershed restoration, and empowering Denver’s unhoused population.
It was then in 2022 when Andrew got more connected to 350 Colorado, collaborating around different campaign efforts. In the summer of 2023, our 350 Northern Colorado Team organized an event with Andrew to visit oil & gas sites in the Windsor area with Earthworks’ special OGI camera. While Andrew had done these types of events before with other groups, the idea of the Fracking & Pollution Action Tour came about when Movement Building & Volunteer Director Chelsea Alexander attended this particular outing with the NoCO Team. Visiting fracking sites and learning about the pollution, lack of regulation, and the history of production and extraction is incredibly valuable and important. What felt it was missing though was the opportunity for the people to do something about it right then and there, while together.
From that point Andrew and Chelsea began working together on this idea of a more action-oriented tour. They developed the format, tools, and resources needed to sign people up, advertise it, organize the most relevant actions, and connect people to on-going opportunities. Over the course of the next 2 years more teammates like Bobbie Mooney were brought into these efforts, and tours were planned in Brighton, Aurora, Erie, Rifle, Commerce City, and Frederick. There were of course challenges and occasions of needing to shift how things were done, like when it was 99 degrees outside so rescheduling was the safest thing to do. But the spirit of collaboration and teamwork always remained strong! Over time it was evident that the shared efforts of these action tours really were lending themselves to good movement building and support for strong regulation and policy around fracking.
“Getting to know Andrew and his vast body of work has been truly inspiring! He and the Earthworks team add such incredible value to the Colorado movement to protect people and our environment from the serious harms of fracking pollution!” -Bobbie Mooney, Beyond Oil & Gas Campaign Director & Staff Attorney
In early 2024 the 350 NoCO Team organized a Fracking & Pollution Action Tour with Andrew in Greeley. Over 15 people were there as various sites were visited, including that of Bella Romero Academy, where a fracking site was developed in 2017 just off of the middle school’s playground. Thanks to Andrew and his skillset with the OGI camera, Coloradans could see first-hand the greenhouse gasses and toxic pollutants that pour out of oil & gas fracking infrastructure. Sometimes you have to really see it to believe it, and getting a good view of fracking pollution paired with Andrew’s expert knowledge and explanations left a lasting impression on everyone lucky enough to go out into the field with Andrew.
Participants convened afterwards on UNC’s campus to discuss findings and take action together, like giving public comment in important upcoming opportunities about ozone and reeling in pollution. One of the people on the tour was an aide to one of the state’s Representatives, and when he heard the story of advocacy against this environmental racism and injustice from impacted community member Patricia Garcia-Nelson, it created a connection that could very well lead to positive change.
“Working with Andrew on this over the years has been wonderful,” said Chelsea Alexander with 350 Colorado. “He has always been communicative, flexible, and easy to organize with, traits you really need to make it long-term in grassroots community organizing. I’ve truly learned so much from his example and leadership!”
Later that year the team was then implementing the environmental justice grant they were awarded through CDPHE in Greeley, through the Greeley Clean Air campaign. Andrew was a key teammate that helped in this work, collaborating to put on 2 additional action tours in Greeley so that community members could see firsthand the issues of fracking and pollution, and then take action.
Like the Community Day of Action for Healthy Air that we put on in March this year that had 35 people there! We started the day by visiting Bella Romero Academy again, learning from Andrew about the industry, the pollution, and the solutions. With a number of people there being Spanish-speaking, Andrew worked seamlessly with the interpreters and technology used to ensure everyone was included. Later in the day for the action / workshop portion, Andrew presented visualized data and imagery from the field that highlighted how serious this issue is. Participants not only practiced developing their story of self to use their voice in policy development, but they also built air filtration systems with box fans and furnace filters to improve their indoor air quality and protect their health. The display of his leadership and commitment that day was incredibly inspiring.
“Andrew is one of the most passionate people I know regarding fracking. I am always impressed with his depth of knowledge and his drive for a greener planet. We need more Andrews – we are going to miss him in Colorado.” – Scott S, Climate Reality NoCo
And truly, there are so many more ways in which Andrew has showed up. Often times he could be found at the capitol during the legislative session, testifying and sharing his findings in the field. Having someone like him there lending his voice and expertise is incredibly powerful in demonstrating to legislators what we need to do to clean-up fracking pollution and protect the health of our communities. Andrew has also been awarded the 2024 NoCo Climate Champion award from our friends at Climate Reality NoCo. He has made so many connections with other groups and individuals and collaborated with them in a variety of ways, that his actions have undoubtedly strengthened the climate movement!
Overall, Andrew’s work over the years has: helped expose climate-harming emissions from abandoned wells in remote areas of the Mountain West, highlighted harmful pollution throughout the oil and gas supply chain from drilling and fracking to refining, been used to push back against the oil and gas industry’s false solutions, and has contributed to dozens of polluting facilities being fined and even shut down. Incredible achievements!
Andrew holds a Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environment with a focus on environmental justice from the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability. He has conducted research focused on perceptions of forest health and climate change amongst rural landowners in the Upper Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and Nicaragua.
Andrew, his wife, and their dog daughter Luz recently moved back to Michigan from Colorado and currently reside in Ann Arbor. When he is not out hunting down oil and gas polluters, he can likely be found writing, cooking, gardening, impressing and/or confusing people with weird facts about animals, singing karaoke, impressing and/or confusing people with his dance moves, and serenading Luz with songs about how she is the best dog ever.
As a reliable and resourceful figure, the climate movement is incredibly fortunate to have had Andrew’s dedication all these years. Thank you Andrew for having shared your many talents with the movement and 350CO for so long now, and while managing the many waves of life. You are a shining star that will continue to strengthen and unite us across the state. Thank you so much for all that you do!
Written by Chelsea Alexander and Bobbie Mooney