First, I'd have him fly to Lamar, where the Colorado Green windfarm has
injected new economic hope into this southeastern Colorado town of 8,800.
During construction of this 162-megawatt windfarm in 2003, nearly 400
workers filled the town's motels and restaurants, providing a huge
economic boost to Lamar and its business community. Revenues from this
project increased Prowers County's tax base 26 percent in 2004, providing
new funding for schools, hospitals, social services and other county
functions. It also created 14 permanent full-time jobs in the community.
Southeastern Colorado also has abundant agriculture-based energy
potential. Its productive land can grow energy crops for ethanol,
biodiesel and electric power production, providing new income
opportunities for farmers and ranchers. Lamar is host to an innovative
project, sponsored in part by Gov. Bill Owens' energy office, that
converts hog waste into clean electric power.
Southeastern Colorado's abundant renewable energy resources can help
revitalize this economically struggling region and enhance our national
energy security by helping fulfill Bush's goal of replacing 75 percent of
our imported oil by 2025.
After visiting Lamar, the president should then fly to Aspen, home of some
of the world's finest skiing. There, the former oil man would probably see
more halfpipes than oil pipes.
But, in Aspen, our president could visit with executives of Aspen Skiing
Co. and learn how this company has taken a national leadership role in
integrating clean new energy technologies into its operations. Aspen
already powers 5 percent of its operations with renewable energy, and that
number will increase significantly. Aspen features two industry-leading
on-site renewable energy projects: a micro-hydroelectric plant that
generates power from spring runoff, and the ski industry's largest
photovoltaic array.
While in Aspen, the president could gain a firsthand understanding of how
the skiing company's aggressive climate mitigation strategy can provide
important economic benefits. Aspen understands the danger of climate
change and is a leader in taking steps to address this threat, using
energy efficiency and new energy technologies.
Upon leaving Aspen, President Bush should instruct his pilot to circle
over western Colorado's wilderness areas and vast undeveloped tracts of
land. Many of these public lands have natural gas, oil shale and other
fossil energy deposits that some officials in Washington want to develop
or sell, which is stirring controversy throughout the West.
Lamar and Aspen are just two of many Colorado clean energy success
stories. Others include Agro Management Group of Colorado Springs, which
makes vegetable-based, low-emission biodegradable motor oil, and
Littleton's Community Power Corp., which is demonstrating a new biopower
technology for on-farm conversion of switchgrass to provide both heat and
power.
Back in Washington, perhaps the president can begin drafting new federal
clean energy policies modeled on Aspen's climate mitigation strategy, as
well as on Colorado's own renewable energy standard, Amendment 37.
America's business community would respond by creating new jobs and
economic opportunities nationwide as companies rise to the challenge of
manufacturing and implementing new energy technologies.
If our country leverages NREL's world-class research and uses more of the
West's inexhaustible, domestic clean energy resources - such as wind,
solar, geothermal, biomass and other agricultural energy crops - then our
wilderness areas can remain wild, ski slopes will stay white and rural
areas will enjoy sustained economic progress.
Even if President Bush never sets foot in Lamar or Aspen, I hope he
realizes that aggressive federal policies that advance domestic,
inexhaustible renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies will
enable America's resourceful citizens and innovative business community to
prosper in the 21st century.
Craig Cox is the executive director of the Western Business Coalition
for New Energy Technologies.