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Ritter poised to meet Bush today

M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 26, 2007 at midnight

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WASHINGTON — If he gets to ask just one question of President Bush today, Gov. Bill Ritter said he will ask about proposed budget cuts for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden.

Ritter, who is in the nation's capitol for the National Governors Association's winter meetings, told an alliance of labor, business and environmental groups this morning that he hopes to make the case for promoting energy independence when he and other governor's make their customary visit to the White House.

The nation's governors are bringing long lists of concerns to their meeting with Bush.

Some will press him about cuts to children's health insurance programs administered by the states. Others will raise concerns about the war in Iraq and the toll that is taking on state National Guard units and their dwindling stocks of equipment.

Ritter said he planned to question Bush's proposal to cut 3 percent from NREL at a time when the president and other policy makers are calling for accelerated development of alternative energy sources like wind and solar power, and bio-fuels.

"I just argue that's the wrong direction to go," Ritter said of the cuts during a speech to The Apollo Alliance, which includes dozens of labor unions, various environmentalist or social activist organizations, and some business groups.

Ritter sees energy independence as an issue that unifies all those groups because of its potential to create jobs, boost the economy and save the planet.

"The states have a real role to play, particularly if the (federal government) is not moving," Ritter said.

In Colorado, Ritter is promoting legislation that would toughen the state's renewable energy standards, requiring that 20 percent of the state's energy come from renewable sources by the year 2020.

Voters approved a 10 percent requirement in 2004. "We're just saying, we weren't ambitious enough," Ritter said.

Ritter also is scheduled to make remarks tonight at the Democratic Governors Association meeting.