Governor Ritter Graded on Environmental issues

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by: ColoradoConservationVoters

( – promoted by ClubTwitty)

Earlier today, we released Governor Ritter’s 2007-2010 Conservation Report Card. The Report Card is a quick and readable synopsis of the Governor’s work on conservation issues these last four years. Click here to check it out.

Not many people reading this post will be surprised to learn that Gov. Ritter earns high marks. We gave him an A+ in his trademark issue, the New Energy Economy. He also scored well on Responsible Oil and Gas Development (A), Water (A-), and Global Warming (A-). He does quite well on Mining (B+) and holds his own on Open Spaces and Wild Places (B). The only category were he lagged significantly was Smart Growth and Transportation (C+).

As I say in the letter that opens the Report Card, if the Governor were using these grades as part of an application to college, he would be accepted to a number of excellent schools.

Why issue a Report Card on the Governor’s work as his term winds down? Several reasons.

First, he deserves recognition for all of the work he has done on the critical environmental issues of the day. Colorado is a stunningly beautiful state. We all want to protect our mountains, rivers, open spaces, and clear blue skies. But, we don’t always agree on how best to do that. The Governor had a vision for what our energy mix should look like, how clean our air must be, and how we should protect our air, land, and water from the pressures of energy development. He fought for that vision and was successful more times than not. Colorado is better off for his work.

Second, we wanted to point out where he fell short. It wasn’t often that we disagreed with him or that he failed to move ahead on an important issue. But, there were occasions. History demands a fair accounting.

Finally, the Report Card is a tool to highlight some of what is left to be done. Four years is a small window in time. Whether it is solving our transportation conundrum and the related pressures of growth on our land and water; or carefully planning for our future water needs to ensure we don’t damage important ecological resources; or continuing to make progress on the defining environmental problem of our time, Global Warming, we need to continue to forge ahead. Quickly. We look forward to working with the next administration to do just that.

11 thoughts on “Governor Ritter Graded on Environmental issues”

Libertad says:

September 29, 2010 at 1:15 am

Now so many more people can enjoy Colorado’s parks and open spaces … because they don’t have jobs to go to.

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1. ClubTwitty says:
  
  September 29, 2010 at 1:25 am
  
  Even by the low, low standards we have become accustomed to.
  
  http://www.gjsentinel.com/news…
  
  Number #1 reason GJEP gives for locating business in GJ?
  
  1. Quality of Life!
  
  Enjoy the New West and be part of a community that is “Spirited by the Outdoors.” The Grand Junction
  
  are has more opportunities for outdoor recreation within a 100-mile radius of its boundaries than any
  
  other city in the Western U.S. In fact, Grand Junction is recognized as the 7th sunniest city!
  
  CO also ranks 13th (out of 50, for BJ) among states for a favorable business tax climate.
  
  http://www.gjep.org/media/docs…
  
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  1. Gray in Mountains says:
    
    September 29, 2010 at 2:03 am
    
    somewhere recently. 5th I think.
    
    Of course on matters of health and education we rank with MS
    
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    1. Libertad says:
      
      September 29, 2010 at 2:21 am
      
      If I could just find it … let me lok over here … nope those are stories about Frontier, 1stData, Qwest and Coors HQs leaving … maybe over here, nope more ONG jobs leaving …. Malone and Liberty, nope signally Canada as a likely future residence …. yeah hows that Connoco 7,000 job addition going by the way?
      
      Give me a few hours, I’ll find it.
      
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      1. ClubTwitty says:
        
        September 29, 2010 at 2:26 am
        
        Here is what some of the O&G execs have recently said about the CO o&g regulations:
        
        “I’d say we’ve been pleased with the communication channels we’ve had with all the state agencies as all of us have implemented the new rules.”
        
        Jim Branch, Piceance Project executive for ExxonMobil Production Co.
        
        GJDS, 12/29/09
        
        http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/c…
        
        “We really think that … Colorado has been a leader, and we think the state rules and regs have been sufficient …”
        
        “[W]e went through the process on the rules and regs in Colorado and in Wyoming and we support the states’ efforts ….” Lisa Hough, Senior Director of Government and Public Affairs, BP
        
        Colorado Independent, 7/30/2010
        
        http://coloradoindependent.com…
        
        “The new rules, we didn’t know how that was going to manifest itself, but we’ve seen some good progress. Now, things are pretty consistent.”
        
        Al Harrison, VP of exploration and production for the Denver region and the Piceance Basin, Williams
        
        Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Aug. 3, 2010
        
        http://www.gjsentinel.com/news…
        
        “In general, we’re very supportive of the intent of the regulations – and that’s to have some sort of balance and try to consider the environment in the area in which you are drilling.
        
        Brad Robinson, president, Gunnison Energy Corp.
        
        Gunnison Country Times
        
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  2. BlueCat says:
    
    September 29, 2010 at 4:01 am
    
    In 2009 was listed as 4th. Not too shabby.
    
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    1. ajb says:
      
      September 29, 2010 at 7:08 pm
      
      🙂
      
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Gray in Mountains says:

September 29, 2010 at 2:05 am

and they have been made without much pain. CO residents will gain for years from his administration’s efforts.

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1. ajb says:
  
  September 29, 2010 at 7:18 pm
  
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DavidThi808 says:

September 29, 2010 at 3:58 am

You can’t hit all A’s in politics. Accomplishing what he did, even if not in a recession, would be outstanding.

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RavenDawg says:

September 29, 2010 at 10:06 pm

Overall, energy/environment have been his biggest achievements and will be his long term legacy.

The “new energy economy” sounds hokey but it’s real. It represents a very constructive approach to move away from traditional extraction while balancing economic development with environmental responsibility.

The overall tone of his admin has been to attempt to restore a balance–not to go all enviro as his opponents claim, but to give environmental views a seat at the table and a fair hearing, as opposed to lip service or outright hostility. The re-structuring of the state O&G commission is a case in point. It’s not that O&G are disenfranchised, it’s that other views can be heard–community quality of life, sportsmen, enviros too.

The major shortcomings in my view are (1) the failure to pass the referendum to increase O&G severance tax in 2008–Ritter was politically ineffective to educate/persuade the voters (nothing new there). This $ would have come in handy during the state budget crisis. (2) I specifically disagree with his attempts to undermine the Roadless Rule–he is only muddying the water and gives his successors a chance to drag their feet when the matter is resolved federally.

Put it this way, if the federal govt was as environmentally progressive as Ritter has been, I would be a lot happier right now. And it remains to be seen if Hick will be as good.

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