Gov. Ritter Says Colorado on the Right Path in Building New Energy Economy

Press Release

Gov. Ritter Says Colorado on the Right Path in Building New Energy Economy

Gov. Ritter took part in a conference call yesterday with Colorado media after wrapping up participation in the Western Governor's Association's Winter Meeting in Park City, Utah. During the call, Gov. Ritter stressed the point that Colorado is on the right track focusing on the further development of the New Energy Economy as a means for leading Colorado forward and through these challenging economic times.

"This was a very productive couple of days," said Gov. Ritter. "My time here demonstrated that Colorado is absolutely on the right path with job creation, protecting our natural heritage, and leading Colorado forward on energy and climate issues."

Gov. Ritter attended the annual three-day conference along with more than 20 other Western Governors. This year's meeting focused on developing regional and global strategies for addressing the intertwined issues of energy, climate change and water.

Over the course of the past three days, Gov. Ritter:

Talked with Energy Secretary Chu about federal stimulus investments in a renewable and smart grid;

* Spoke generally about how to increase demand for clean burning natural gas, and how that fits in to the New Energy Economy;
* Discussed Desert Rock with Nancy Helen Sutley, who leads the White House Council on Environmental Quality;
* Specifically asked Agriculture Secretary Vilsack for help protecting electric transmission lines from risk of fire as they go through pine beetle infested areas, and
* Advocated expanding the discussion of energy transmission from the WGA to a national platform at the National Governor's Association's next meeting.

"This conference was also an example of how important the West is to President Obama," Gov. Ritter said. With such an impressive showing from the Obama Administration, we think the voice of the West regarding its role in the development of energy transmission was heard loud and clear."

On hand for the conference were five of President Obama's key energy, climate change, and water leaders, including: Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, and Nancy Sutley, who leads the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

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