Climate hero barely begins to describe Lucy Molina. A mother of two and a neighbor to the Suncor Oil Refinery in Commerce City, Lucy has been working for years to protect her community, family, and the climate. When Lucy speaks, people listen. Whether she is speaking with an elected official, the media, or her neighbors, her powerful story and ability to connect with anyone has helped her to bring major attention to one of the worst environmental justice issues in Colorado. 

Lucy has dedicated hundreds of hours to these issues. From flyering and canvassing her neighborhood to speaking at the Capitol to joining committee and planning calls, Lucy does it all! Over the last month, Lucy has been working tirelessly to ensure her community participates in the upcoming Title V permit process for the Suncor Oil Refinery. She has led public comment training in English and Spanish, educated her community on how to participate, and was featured on multiple news stories. (Check it out here!) 

Lucy has also supported a number of other important 350 Colorado campaign efforts, including speaking out about Colorado’s state pension fund Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) investments in Suncor, which disproportionately impact lower-income communities and communities of color. Lucy helped to launch  “A Letter to PERA from Impacted Coloradans,” a video that highlighted the issue and which inspired over 850 Coloradans to send letters to PERA calling for a halt to fossil fuel investments.  

Among her many areas of work with 350 Colorado Lucy works tirelessly for a Just Transition and was a keynote speaker at last summer’s Just Transition rally where she spoke about the realities of living in a frontline community and what a just transition would really look like for a community directly impacted by the fossil fuel industry and the climate crisis. She has also worked to stop fracking, which is exacerbating air quality problems in her community and others across Colorado. On top of all of this, she ran for City Council and has spent countless hours ensuring her community has a voice. She is loved by everyone she meets, and we are so lucky to have her leadership and her deep love for not only her own community but for all of Colorado. 

Thank you Lucy for all of your amazing efforts, you are a true climate hero!