Gov. Bill Ritter is in Washington, D.C. today, "touting clean-energy laws and polices that are creating jobs, attracting companies and advancing a new era of manufacturing in the state," according to a press release. In a call with media after Ritter's presentation to a U.S. Senate committee, Sen. Mark Udall said his colleagues are very interested in the "Colorado example." But not everyone in Washington is so enamored: Republican U.S. Senators used the committee hearing as an opportunity to criticize Ritter's energy policy positions on a national stage.
COLORADO'S FRONTPAGE
Face the State
Content Index: Energy
Follow this topic by RSS8/18: Coal still king of power generation
How many wind turbines does it take to equal one coal power plant?
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New coal plant equal to 2,000+ wind turbines
A Face the State Staff Report
August 13, 2009As the Comanche unit 3 coal plant near Pueblo is scheduled to start commercial operation this fall, utilities are also seeking ways to comply with a 2004 ballot measure that requires 20 percent of the state's electricity to come from "renewable" sources. A Face The State analysis explores the relative power of Comanche versus two large wind and solar projects.
Xcel ad campaign shows it's hard to serve two masters
FTS Opinion
August 11, 2009Xcel Energy has proposed raising energy rates on consumers while at the same time spending an undisclosed sum of money on a self-serving ad campaign. The “Responsible By Nature” ads seen online, in print and on the air encourage consumers to save money by decreasing consumption and take advantage of the company’s rebates. To encourage saving money by reducing consumption while at the same time raising rates at the meter has us scratching our heads.
Solar rays bend Denver's rules
A Face the State Staff Report
August 3, 2009Nearly a year has passed since a $13 million, 7.5 acre solar panel project was dedicated at Denver International Airport. A Face the State Investigation reveals a project marred by a lax bidding process, missing records, lack of oversight and and bureaucratic finger pointing for those shortfalls.
Denver bends the rules in the name of 'green' energy
FTS staff writer Kate Melvin has the skinny on those new solar panels at Denver International Airport. How'd they end up there, and did the City and County of Denver bend the rules to make the project happen? Stay tuned for the full story, coming Monday to Face The State.
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Mr. Ritter goes to Washington
Gov. Bill Ritter was in Washington, D.C. this week touting his "New Energy Economy," though not everyone is sold on the program and the heavy government subsidies it requires.
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FTS Humor: Perlmutterings
Face The State Humor
July 24, 2009By Andrew Ripemoff
Even as someone who didn’t vote for Bill Ritter, I have to admit that my heart was filled with regional pride upon seeing the governor of my state invited to our nation’s capitol, to the United States Senate, on national TV and everything, afforded the opportunity to suck up to that annoying Barbara Boxer.
Mr. Ritter was there to share his economic expertise with our nation’s lawmakers. And why not? Let’s be fair: If you really want a serious, bi-partisan roadmap towards creating jobs and improving the economy while solving a budget crisis, you will take note of what Governor Ritter is doing here in Colorado.
FTS on 1310 KFKA: Mr. Ritter goes to Washington
Face The State visits with 1310 KFKA morning show hosts Trevor Carey and George Gray. Gov. Bill Ritter was in Washington, D.C. this week touting his "new energy economy," but GOP senators were ready and waiting for him with questions about carbon taxes, "green" government subsidies and other nastiness.
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Mixed reaction from Senate for Ritter energy policy
July 21, 2009Fmr. U.S. Sen. Tim Wirth on global warming, natural gas and Waxman-Markey
Former U.S. Senator Tim Wirth spoke to the Colorado Oil and Gas Association Wendesday and he has strong words for the natural gas industry. With federal legislation instituting a "cap-and-trade" carbon emissions regime cruising toward passage, Wirth says energy producers need to come to the table and carve out their stake. But where is Colorado's federal delegation on the issue? Weld Co. Commissioner Sean Conway says he isn't pleased with how U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey has represented his district regarding the bill.
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FTS on 1310 KFKA: UNC prof in hot water; weekend show preview
Face The State visits with 1310 KFKA morning show hosts George Gray and Trevor Carey. A former professor at the University of Northern Colorado is in hot water for allegedly inappropriate relationships with students and possible possession of child pornography. Are amorous relationships between students and teachers ever OK in even the best of circumstances?
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7/8: Energy tax vote turns microscope on Markey
U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey's vote on a new energy tax is burning up the airwaves.
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Markey says she reads bills before voting, but how could she?
June 29, 2009
Freshman U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey claims to read bills prior to voting in Congress, but it's unlikely she had the time to do so before voting for federal "cap and trade" energy legislation Friday.
6/10: Ritter's office wants PUC lobbyist
The state wants to use stimulus money to - get this - lobby itself. Now that's economic development for you.
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5/21: Bill Ritter's about-face on energy taxes
Gov. Bill Ritter still has a surprise or two up his sleeve.
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Segment 1 - The week's news: Durango's 'bridge to nowhere,' Ritter confused on energy
Managing editor Brad Jones and staff writer Kate Melvin take a look at a few stories from the week in Colorado news. Does Colorado have its own "bridge to nowhere" outside Durango? Is Gov. Bill Ritter doing an about-face on energy taxes, or is he just confused? And does Fort Collins really need another tax increase for public transit?
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Ritter changing his mind on energy? Or is he just confused?
May 15, 2009
Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat who loves his 'new energy economy', is urging Congress not to eliminate a federal tax break for oil and gas drilling, saying it could hurt Colorado's economy. Perhaps he forgot to consider that the new oil and gas regulations he recently signed into law are also a big part of why the energy industry is pulling out of Colorado, not to mention his own efforts to raise taxes on the industry.
A true believer questions Ritter's 'new energy economy'
May 13, 2009Liberal Denver Post columnist Susan Greene likes alternative energy sources, but she isn't falling for Gov. Bill Ritter's rhetoric about the "new energy economy."
In her Tuesday column, Greene called Ritter out for praising Tri-State Generation, a leading producer of power in Colorado. Ritter applauded Tri-State for its "leadership" in the energy sector, despite the fact that less than 1 percent of the company's power comes from renewable sources.
Ritter light on fees, energy talk at chamber lunch
A Face the State Staff Report
May 8, 2009At a Thursday lunch hosted by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Gov. Bill Ritter summarized recent gains relating to job creation and his oft-promoted "new energy economy." Missing from the speech: any mention of millions of dollars in new fees or regulations coming out of this year's legislative session, which ended Wednesday.
4/30: The left's feel-good energy projects
Whatever happened to the left's favorite wind turbine?
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4/21: Ken Salazar's new energy pipe dream
Colorado's very own Ken Salazar found himself in hot water with Wyoming's governor.
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Segment 5 - Natural gas production in Colorado
FTS looks at the state of natural gas production in Colorado, with the help of Richard Ranger of the American Petroleum Institute.
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4/3: Green energy, highly subsidized
Is green energy really as affordable as proponents claim?
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Segment 4 - Ritter's 'new energy' hypocrisy
At a recent ribbon-cutting in Pueblo, Gov. Bill Ritter spoke approvingly about a new water treatment company's job creation potential. But it turns out his economic development office didn't have time to respond to the company's proposal for state aid. What's going on here?
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Pueblo firm touted by Ritter gets cold shoulder from state
A Face the State Staff Report
March 26, 2009
In the past week, Gov. Bill Ritter has traveled across the state for ribbon cutting ceremonies and press conferences touting clean energy companies creating jobs in Colorado. But during a stop in Pueblo to applaud the efforts of The Water Company, he neglected to mention that his Office of Economic Development ignored the company's request for funding, meaning the firm received no state support for its expansion.
Ritter's convenient omission on the airwaves
March 24, 2009Gov. Bill Ritter was a Tuesday morning guest on 1010 KSIR, eastern Colorado's dominant agriculture news station, for a wide-ranging interview focusing on rural issues. He talked a lot about embracing Colorado's enviro-friendly natural resources like wind and solar power, but regulating the evil, dirty ones, like oil and gas.
Ritter runs with Republican agenda, again
March 20, 2009For weeks now, state Rep. Scott Tipton, a Cortez Republican, has been working to raise awareness about pollution coming out of the Four Corners Power Plant. He’s done the all the heavy lifting to draw attention to the issue, including the research and media outreach.
FTS Humor: Do Not Resuscitate
Face The State Humor
March 20, 2009By Andrew Ripemoff
When I was 16, I worked in a fast food restaurant that shall go unnamed for reasons that will become obvious shortly. One busy afternoon, I spilled a package of french fries on the dirty, disgusting floor. My manager, (my MANAGER mind you), quickly scooped up the scattered spuds and put them in the bag with the rest of the customer’s order.
3/20: Ritter gets some bad energy policy advice
Is Mr. Ritter being led down the primrose path on energy policy?
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Suthers signs on to help combat pollution in Southwest Colorado
March 18, 2009Attorney General John Suthers has joined state Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, in a joint-effort to combat harmful pollution to southern Colorado caused by emissions from Four Corners Power Plant.