Our State Work

State-wide Collaborative Processes with CBI

Tackling challenges at the state level requires sensitivity to a wide range of perspectives and interests, bringing state-scale point of view together with those of sometimes very different cities, small towns, industries, and more. In 48 of 50 states, CBI has facilitated processes custom-designed to succeed by gathering such diverse viewpoints. We’ve worked with states on issues involving both agricultural and energy interests; we’ve guided processes to develop states’ climate action plans; we’ve facilitated efforts to establish statewide frameworks for a sustainable water supply; and more. Our services include: 

• Facilitation and mediation
• Citizen engagement
• Skill-building training
• Strategic planning

Read more about examples of these services below.

Guiding Maine's Climate Action Plan

Statewide planning efforts around climate action call for addressing the needs of communities facing different challengesdue to climate change; incorporating up-to-date science; drawing from state and commercial perspectives, and more. When, for instance, CBI guided the Maine Climate Council’s development of its climate action plan, Maine Won’t Wait, our work involved bringing together a 40-person council, six working groups, and a Science and Technical Subcommittee. Thousands more participated in outreach. 

The result: Maine’s climate plan “Maine Won’t Wait” won regional and national planning awards and led to bipartisan state action that advanced the state’s climate work. 

Engaging Rural and Urban Communities on Wildlife Restoration in Colorado

We design forums that encourage productive communication across differences— working through sometimes polarizing issues in ways that build mutual understanding and encourage real problem-solving. 

For Colorado Parks and Wildlife, CBI has facilitated a series of meetings to sustain dialogue and brainstorm solutionsrelated to the divisive issue of wolf reintroduction on the western slope of the primarily rural part of the state. The divisions reflected polarization between the state’s urban and rural communities, and CBI brought together both ranching and wildlife interests, along with top-level agency officials. 

The result: What was originally supposed to be three emergency meetings turned into more. Substantive discussions happened across urban-rural divisions. 

An Ambitious Massachusetts Commission on Clean Heat

CBI helps state efforts to collaborate with communities, private interests, advocacy groups, and more. We facilitated the Massachusetts Commission on Clean Heat to develop policies and programs to decarbonize the state’s building stock. The process brought together government perspectives, developers, affordable housing and climate advocates, gas and electric utility representatives, and more. 

The result: The Commission reached consensus on an array of policies, including reforms to expand the state’s Mass Save program’s accessibility, aligning it with the state’s decarbonization targets and transitioning it to a customer-centric “one-stop shop.”

Statewide Collaboration in California for Sustainable Water

Responding to statewide challenges requires sophisticated coordination at multiple levels. After a damaging drought in California, CBI supported wide-ranging coordination when we facilitated meetings to develop a framework for groundwater regulation. Then came engagement with different sectors to consider those recommendations for legislation, which led to California’s landmark Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014. Since then, CBI has supported the rollout of regulations, assisted the development and implementation of sustainability plans, and facilitated collaboration across basins. 

The result: California has seen increased collaboration and community engagement for the sustainable management of groundwater to benefit water supply and adapt to climate change over time.