CSU Earth Day has role for Ritter's Energy policy

Colorado State University is celebrating Earth Week with a week of green events Thursday, April 17, through Friday, April 25. “This year’s Earth Week line-up demonstrates the impressive breadth of sustainability education, research, and engagement at CSU,” said Tonie Miyamoto, director of Communications and Sustainability for CSU’s Housing and Dining Services. “Events range from guest lectures to tours to tree planting and festivals – there is something for everyone.” Events happening during Earth Week include: Thursday, April 17 The grand opening of the Powerhouse Energy Campus will be held 3-5 p.m. at 430 N. College Ave. in Fort Collins. Home to the CSU Energy Institute, the Powerhouse Energy Campus is a 65,000-square-foot expansion of the CSU Engines and Energy Conversion Lab. The facility houses offices for all of the research centers affiliated with the Institute, and is a model of cutting-edge energy research in itself. Monday, April 21 CSU U.S. Green Building Council and the Design-Build Institute of America will cohost guest speaker Nancy Kralik, senior director of Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) and Sustainability at Fluor Corporation 6-8 p.m. in the Pre-Construction Building, Room 122. She is a licensed civil and environmental engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the development and application of HSE policies and procedures in a global arena. She serves as chair of Fluor's executive-level sustainability committee. She also chairs the Construction Industry Institute's research team on sustainability in construction and recently led an Engineers Without Borders team on an El Salvadoran water project. CSU's Warner College of Natural Resources will host renowned Colorado nature photographer John Fielder at 7 p.m. in the UCA’s Griffin Concert Hall, 1400 Remington St. Fielder will showcase his photography of Colorado’s wilderness as part of the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. Tuesday, April 22 Holding onto some old or outdated electronics for a while? Bring them to the all-day e-Waste Collection on 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Surplus Property Warehouse. The event is sponsored by CSU’s Surplus Property department. The Earth Day Festival, 10 a.m.-2p.m., is a celebration of sustainability at CSU and in the community. Staff, students, and faculty are all welcome to the event. Live music, baked goods from the bakeshop and much more will be at this year's festival. Stop by the trees at Meridian Avenue and Plum Street to learn about more about the sustainability community at CSU. The event is sponsored by Housing and Dining Services, the Live Green Team, Parking and Transportation Services and the Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Advisory Committee. Biodiversity Ignite! is an evening of fun and informative five-minute talks that showcase and recognize the range of biodiversity research conducted at CSU. Sponsored by the School of Global Environmental Sustainability Biodiversity Working Group, the event is 5-7 p.m. at Avogadro’s Number, 605 S. Mason St. in Fort Collins. On Earth Day, CSU Sustainable Remediation Forum and the Student Sustainability Center are co-hosting a free screening of the documentary "Gasland II" at 7:30 p.m. in the Behavioral Sciences Building, Room 131. The Gasland film series takes a deep look at the dangers of fracking, hydraulic fracturing and power behind the oil and gas companies. Wednesday, April 23 A panel of conservation practitioners will discuss how to achieve big goals through dynamic partnerships from the mountains to the plains at 6 p.m. in Behavioral Sciences Building, Room A101. The event will kick off with a presentation, "Conservation from the Past to the Future," by conservation philanthropist Ed Warner. Panelists include Heather Knight, The Nature Conservancy; Noe Marymor, Natural Resource Conservation Service; and Bob Sturtevant, Colorado State Forest Service. There will be a post-panel mixer at 7:30 p.m. in the atrium of the Natural Resources Building. Thursday, April 24 The Ranching and a West that Works Conference, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. in the Lory Student Center Theatre, will discuss the reality of ranching and explore the transformative ideas ranching will pass through during this century. The event continues 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. April 25. The Earth, Sun and Fire Tour of the Foothills Campus, 1-3 p.m., includes a tour of the 5.3-megawatt, 30-acre solar plant; the in-vessel composter; and the biomass boiler. RSVPs are required for this free event; email RamTrax@colostate.edu. The event is sponsored by RamTrax, Facilities Management and Housing and Dining Services. Friday, April 25 The Ranching and a West that Works Conference continues 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Lory Student Center Theatre. The conference will discuss the reality of ranching and explore the transformative ideas ranching will pass through during this century. Celebrate Colorado State University's third year being recognized as a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Foundation by helping to plant new trees 9:30 a.m.-noon at the University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St. Planting instruction will be provided by CSU Facilities and the Colorado State Forest Service. CSU student groups interested in planting trees should contact Luke Finn at Luke.Finn@rams.colostate.edu to sign up. The event is sponsored by the Center for Collaborative Conservation, Colorado State Forest Service, Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, numerous student organizations and the Warner College of Natural Resources. Holding onto some old or outdated electronics for a while and are not sure what to do with them? Want to pick up some CSU compost for your garden? Bring up to two e-waste items to recycle at no cost and two buckets to the Compost Giveaway/e-Waste Collection between 1 and 3 p.m. Friday, to the parking lot at College Avenue and Lake Street (Lot #575). The event is sponsored by Surplus Property, Facilities Management and Housing and Dining Services.

Ritter's Energy think tank offer federal energy plan

In last year’s State of the Union address, President Barack Obama told Congress that if it didn’t act on global climate change, he would. Now, with the next State of the Union message coming up next week, a diverse and influential group of leaders from beyond the Beltway has presented Obama with more than 200 ideas on how he can continue acting on that promise. At a news conference today, former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter released a report delivered to the White House last week, offering scores of ideas on how the Obama administration can move the nation closer to a clean energy economy and reduce America’s carbon emissions over the next three years, using his executive powers. The report, which Ritter called a “comprehensive menu of options” for the President, was developed over eight months with the help of more than 100 CEOs, energy experts, academicians and thought leaders who participated in a series of roundtables last year. Ritter emphasized that not all of the participants agreed with all of the ideas, but the report reflects the recommendations that received the strongest support. Ritter, who founded and directs the Center for the New Energy Economy (CNEE) at Colorado State University, briefed members of the President’s Cabinet and senior policy staff at the White House last week. Among those who attended were Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz; Interior Secretary Sally Jewell; Deputy EPA Administrator Robert Perciasepe; the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, John Holdren; Dan Tangherlini, the Administrator of the General Services Administration; Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality; and Dan Utech, the President’s top climate advisor. Among its many recommendations, Powering Forward urges the President and his administration to: • Carefully compare the full life-cycle benefits and costs of each energy resource as his national energy policy is implemented. The report points out that additional opportunities exist to distinguish carbon-rich and low-carbon resources consistent with the President’s goals for minimizing the greenhouse gas emissions most responsible for climate change. • Direct the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to review and improve how it counts “green jobs” and to resume reporting the number of those jobs in the economy. The BLS suspended its reporting on green jobs last year after it was criticized for its methodology. • Direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue clear preliminary guidance to states as early as possible in the regulatory process to encourage early adoption of new energy efficiency and renewable energy measures, and to explain how they will be credited in state implementation plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing fossil-fuel power plants. • Direct the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to review and if necessary improve its methods for projecting the growth of renewable energy technologies in years ahead. EIA has been criticized for underestimating renewable energy’s contribution to the nation’s energy mix. • Direct federal agencies to work with the nation’s electric utilities and utility regulators to update regulations that are getting in the way of clean energy technologies. Utility executives told CNEE that outdated regulations are making it difficult to accommodate new energy resources and technologies such as wind energy and rooftop solar systems. “As one utility executive put it, today’s new energy technologies are 10 years ahead of utilities in the United States, and utilities are 10 years ahead of regulations,” Ritter said.

FOR 2ND YEAR IN A ROW, FORBES.COM NAMES COLO. 4TH BEST FOR BIZ

FORBES AGAIN RANKS COLORADO 4^th BEST STATE FOR BUSINESS

 

For the second year in a row, Forbes has once again ranked Colorado as the fourth best state for businesses and for fostering economic growth. CNBC has rated Colorado the third best state two years in a row.

 

"Even in this tough economy, Colorado has remained aggressive, disciplined and focused when it comes to supporting businesses and encouraging economic growth," Gov. Ritter said. "Today's ranking by Forbes shows that our strategies and investments in emerging and innovative industries like clean energy, healthcare, aerospace, biosciences and technology are working. We still have many challenges ahead, but we are indeed moving forward."

 

The Forbes ranking puts Colorado first for labor supply, sixth for overall economic climate and growth prospects, and ninth for quality of life.

 

GOV. RITTER STATEMENT ON DAVID HARTLEY CASE

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter issued the following statement today regarding the David Hartley case:

 

"My heart goes out to the family and friends of David Hartley as they struggle through this painful and difficult time. Earlier today I spoke with the Mexican Consulate's Office about this tragic case and they assured me they are doing everything possible to recover David's body and bring to justice those who committed this heinous crime. I asked that they commit all law enforcement resources available, and they assured me they would."

GOV. RITTER APPOINTS FOUR NEW JUDGES TO COUNTY, DISTRICT COURTS

Gov. Bill Ritter announced today he has appointed four new judges to the bench in Colorado:

 

·         Mark Duncan Thompson of Breckenridge will replace retiring District Court Judge W. Terry Ruckriegle in the 5^th Judicial District effective immediately. The 5^th Judicial District serves Clear Creek, Eagle, Lake and Summit counties. Thompson is a shareholder of the Breckenridge law firm West, Brown, Huntley and Thompson. He received his bachelor's degree from Bates College in Maine in 1989 and his law degree from the University of Denver in 1992.

 

·         Norma A. Sierra of Boulder will replace retiring Boulder County Court Judge Carolyn Hoye Enichen effective Jan. 11. Sierra is currently a District Court magistrate for the 20^th Judicial District, which serves Boulder County. Before that, Sierra served as the district's family court facilitator. She was a solo practitioner from 1996 to 2000 and a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice from 1990 to 1993. She earned her B.B.A. from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1984 and her law degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987.

 

·         Mark Marrow Randall of Arvada will replace retiring Jefferson County Court Judge Charles T. Hoppin effective Jan. 11. Randall is currently a chief deputy district attorney for the 1^st Judicial District, which serves Gilpin and Jefferson counties. He also is the legislative director for the Colorado District Attorney's Council. Randall earned his bachelor's degree from Creighton University in Nebraska in 1985 and his law degree from the University of Denver in 1988.

 

·         Thomas Lee Lynch of Fort Collins will replace retiring Larimer County Court Judge Cynthia M. Hartman effective Nov. 30. Lynch is currently a deputy district in the 8^th Judicial District, which serves Larimer and Jackson counties. Prior to that, he was an executive with Snowfly Inc., district director for former Congressman Bob Schaffer, president of JurisDATA Inc. and corporate services executive for Aspen Tree Software. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1988 and his law degree in 1991 from the University of Wyoming.

 

For a county court judge, the initial term of office is a provisional term of two years. Thereafter, if retained by the voters, county court judges serve four-year terms at an annual salary of $123,067.

 

For a district court judge, the initial term of office is a provisional term of two years. Thereafter, if retained by the voters, district court judges serve six-year terms at an annual salary of $128,598.

 

GOV. RITTER APPOINTS THREE NEW JUDGES

 

Gov. Bill Ritter announced today he has appointed three new judges – two district court judges in the 4th Judicial District and one county court judge in Douglas County:

 

·         Lawrence R. Bowling of Castle Rock will replace retiring Douglas County Judge Michelle Marker effective Jan. 1.

 

·         Timothy J. Schutz of Monument will replace retiring District Court Judge J. Patrick Kelly in the 4^thJudicial District effective Oct. 31.

 

·         Barbara L. Hughes of Colorado Springs will replace retiring District Court Judge Timothy Simmons in the 4^th Judicial District effective Dec. 31. The 4^th Judicial District serves El Paso and Teller counties.

 

Bowling is currently a magistrate in Douglas County and has served as a magistrate in the 18^th Judicial District – which covers Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties – since 2006. Prior to that, he was an assistant county attorney in Jefferson County, an associate with Quade, Fontana and Bonin, and a deputy district attorney in the 18^th Judicial District. He earned his bachelor's degree from Colorado Technical College in 1981 and his law degree from the University of Denver in 1993.

 

Schutz is a founding member of the firm Hanes & Schutz, which was formed in 1992. Before that, he was an associate with Holland & Hart. He received his bachelor's degree from Moorhead State University in 1984 and his law degree from the University of North Dakota in 1987.

 

Hughes has served as a district court magistrate in the 4^th Judicial District's Probate Division since 2000. Prior to that, she was an attorney with Colorado Legal Services in Colorado Springs, an attorney with Pikes Peak Legal Services in Colorado Springs, a law clerk in the 4^th Judicial District and an attorney with Zuckerman and Kleinman. She earned her bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1980 and her law degree from the University of Colorado in 1988.

 

For a county court judge, the initial term of office is a provisional term of two years. Thereafter, if retained by the voters, county court judges serve four-year terms at an annual salary of $123,067.

 

For a district court judge, the initial term of office is a provisional term of two years. Thereafter, if retained by the voters, district court judges serve six-year terms at an annual salary of $128,598.

 

 

GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES BALLOT ISSUE RESOLUTION

GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES BALLOT ISSUE RESOLUTION

 

Gov. Bill Ritter announced today an agreement has been reached between commercial rafting outfitters and private property owners along the Taylor River. The compromise clears the way for sponsors of 24 competing ballot measures to withdraw their respective proposals from the November ballot, averting an expensive and divisive election fight.

 

The Governor had asked two outfitters, Three Rivers and Scenic River Tours, and the owners of the Jackson-Shaw property, in May to find a mutually agreeable solution to their dispute.

 

Gov. Ritter thanked the parties for their hard work and willingness to find common ground. "To reach this accord, both sides had to make difficult concessions, and I appreciate their willingness to do so," the Governor said. "Today's agreement marks an important step toward opening a dialogue between landowners and rafters. My hope is that this dialogue will then lead to a fair and efficient dispute-resolution process for the future.

 

"Colorado's rivers are essential to all Coloradans, not only for the vital drinking and agricultural water they carry, but also to our overall economy and quality of life," said Gov. Ritter, who is an avid fly-fisherman. "Anglers, rafters and private landowners may all have separate and unique interests, but they all share a common Colorado interest that is bound together by doing what's best for our children and the future of our state.

 

"I also applaud the decision of the sponsors to withdraw their ballot initiatives," Gov. Ritter added. "The decision of these parties to withdraw these ballot measures was courageous and puts the interests of all Coloradans above their individual interests."

 

Said Lewis Shaw, chairman and CEO of Jackson-Shaw Co., which owns the Wilder on the Taylor fishing reserve: "We are pleased to announce a resolution to the dispute on the Taylor River involving commercial rafting and private fishing property.  Gov. Ritter has offered much-appreciated guidance to both parties to reach this settlement privately, avoiding possible contentious legislative initiatives or impositions.  The agreement permits rafting companies Three Rivers and Scenic River Tours structured access through the private Wilder Ranch property while respecting each parties' positions for their mutual enjoyment of this beautiful natural resource."

 

"Over the years, Colorado's property owners and rafters around the state, working on a case-by-case basis, have found ways to accommodate each other," said John Leede, president of the Creekside Coalition, which represents about 600 riparian landowners across Colorado. "We believe this long-standing approach has served Colorado well by balancing the needs of various interests.   Our ballot issues were introduced to protect against legislative and ballot proposals from the commercial rafting community that we believed were one sided and would have disrupted the delicate balance between rafters, fisherman and property owners across the state.  We are appreciative of the Governor's leadership in resolving this issue and we will continue to participate constructively in future discussions around these issues."

 

The withdrawal of the ballot measures also clears the way for the creation of a task force that will propose a dispute-resolution process to address future conflicts on Colorado rivers.

 

Gov. Ritter will convene a task force of stakeholders to develop a proposal for resolving conflicts among landowners, anglers and the boating public. The task force will be charged with developing a framework for resolving disputes on Colorado rivers on a stretch-by-stretch basis as those disputes arise. This approach recognizes that disputes vary from place to place and that a one-size-fits-all strategy is unlikely to succeed.

 

The task force will be led by the Department of Natural Resources and the Governor's Office.  The task force will include representatives from landowners, commercial and recreational river users, local government officials and law enforcement, which has historically been tasked with intervening in such disputes.

 

The task force will be asked to deliver a report outlining its proposal to the Governor by Dec. 31.