Colorado

Houston, Texas, and Boulder, Colorado, July 1, 2008 – ConocoPhillips [NYSE:COP] announced today that it has signed a $5 million, multi-year sponsored research agreement with the Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels (C2B2), a research center of the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory, to develop new ways to convert biomass into low-carbon transportation fuels.    » read more »

June 17, 2008 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter is scheduled to visit San Diego on Wednesday to promote Colorado's fast-growing biotech and bioscience economic sector during a business retention and recruiting trip.

The business outreach mission coincides with the 2008 BIO International Convention, which brings together 20,000 bioscience industry leaders from around the globe. This will be Gov. Ritter’s second economic-development visit to California in two months; he met with several high-tech companies in the Silicon Valley in April.    » read more »

June 13, 2008 -- Colorado Governor Ritter today welcomed the news of Leprino Foods’ decision to expand operations in Colorado.

"This is such a great victory for Colorado, and Leprino Foods' commitment to the state is clear," said Gov Ritter. "We appreciate their considerable investment in jobs and facilities in Greeley and the economic impact of their decision is significant. With Weld County's rich agricultural history, they could not have selected a more appropriate location."

Leprino Foods of Denver, the world's largest producer of mozzarella cheese, announced today that it will construct a cheese and whey production facility in Greeley. The new facility will initially bring 260 more jobs to Colorado's economy, with potential for more in the future.    » read more »

June 3, 2008 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today welcomed global wind-industry leader Siemens Energy to Colorado.

Siemens Energy announced today at the American Wind Energy Association annual conference in Houston that it will establish its U.S. wind research and development center in Boulder, creating 50 new green-collar jobs here in Colorado.

"This is another great testament to Colorado's growing New Energy economy," Gov. Ritter said. "We continue to establish ourselves as a worldwide leader in renewable, sustainable and modern energy. The arrival of Siemens Energy's U.S. wind turbine research center draws particular attention to the creative and groundbreaking work being done in energy R&D in Colorado."    » read more »

Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak cites Obama's electability in the West

May 28, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Today, Colorado Democratic Party Chair and superdelegate Pat Waak announced her support for Barack Obama, citing his electability and strong support in Colorado.

Barack Obama speaking in Colorado: Photo by Michael Fajardo (CC)

Waak said: "Today I am proud to announce my endorsement of Senator Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

I have maintained my neutrality throughout Colorado's selection process but feel compelled today to announce my support for several important reasons:    » read more »

Shell, Army to pay $35 million for area projects in Colorado’s largest environmental settlement to date

05/29/2008 -- (DENVER) – Colorado Attorney General John Suthers and Governor Bill Ritter today announced the settlement of Colorado’s quarter-century-old claim for natural resource damages at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Superfund site.

Rocky Mountain Arsenal: Photo by Patrick Michael McLeod (CC)    » read more »

May 26, 2008 -- George W. Bush today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Colorado and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and tornadoes on May 22, 2008.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Larimer and Weld Counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.    » read more »

May 24, 2008 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter tonight signed a request for federal disaster assistance for individuals, agricultural producers and businesses that sustained damage and suffered losses from Thursday's northern Colorado tornadoes.

The request was forwarded to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for review and will then be forwarded to President Bush.    » read more »

May 22, 2008 -- EXECUTIVE ORDER
Declaring a Disaster Emergency Due to Severe Tornadoes in Northern Colorado

Pursuant to the authority vested in the Governor of the State of Colorado and, in particular, pursuant to relevant portions of the Colorado Disaster Emergency Act of 1992, C.R.S. § 24-32-2100, et seq., I, Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of the State of Colorado, hereby issue this Executive Order declaring a state of disaster emergency due to severe tornadoes in northern Colorado.

Angry skies in Colorado: Photo by jef(f) (CC)

1. Background and Purpose    » read more »

May 21, 2008 -- FORT COLLINS -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed three bills into law today during a ceremony in Old Town Square that promote downtown economic-development efforts in communities across Colorado and support water and wildfire initiatives at Colorado State University.

Senate Bill 170, sponsored by Sen. Bob Bacon and Rep. Bernie Buescher, gives the state's 11 Downtown Development Authorities a 20-year extension on their tax-increment financing contracts. Revenues will be split 50-50 between downtown areas and other districts.    » read more »

May 7, 2008 -- The Winter X Games, the premier winter action sports event in the world, will be held January 22-25, 2009 from Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado. The annual event features athletes from across the globe competing for medals and prize money in the following sports: Skiing, Snowboard and Snowmobile. January 20-21 will serve as practice and elimination days.

All Winter X Games competitions will take place at the resort’s Buttermilk Mountain. Winter X Games 13 will air live on ESPN and ABC and will feature nighttime events. The event will remain at Aspen/Snowmass through 2010, for a total of nine consecutive years (2002-2010).

WHO: ESPN Winter X Games and Aspen Skiing Company
WHAT: Event dates for Winter X Games 13    » read more »

May 10, 2008 -- Eighty-eight teams from 29 Colorado schools participated in today’s Junior Solar Sprint and Hydrogen Fuel Cell car competitions hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Teams used either a solar cell and motor or a fuel cell and motor to design and build solar or hydrogen powered vehicles.    » read more »

May 8, 2008 -- Colorado Governor Ritter today welcomed the news that Vestas plans to build the world's largest factory for wind turbine towers in Colorado:

"This is another great victory for the New Energy Economy and all of Colorado. Vestas is showing yet again why it is one of our strongest partners in the development of modern energy in the 21st century, and my Administration has worked closely with Vestas over the past few months to make this new factory a reality.

"I participated in the groundbreaking and grand opening for Vestas' first Colorado facility -- the wind blade plant in Windsor -- and I look forward to being at the groundbreaking for this new wind tower factory as well.    » read more »

May 9, 2008 -- A warm, windy summer could mean more wildfires for Colorado, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter announced at his annual wildfire briefing today

Conditions on the Eastern Plains and in northwest Colorado may contribute to higher-than-average wildfire activity. Fire experts also are concerned about the foothills and lower elevations east of the Continental Divide due to the abundance of dead, dry grass produced by the wet winter of 2006/2007.

Forest firefighting via helicopter, Colorado, 2007: Photo by Brad (CC)

The recent dry weather in western Colorado also has them on alert.    » read more »

May 08, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of four Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Casey L. Casanova, 22, of McComb, Mississippi.

Cpl. Miguel A. Guzman, 21, of Norwalk, California.

Lance Cpl. James F. Kimple, 21, of Carroll, Ohio

Sgt. Glen E. Martinez, 31, of Boulder, Colorado.

All four Marines died May 2 in Al Anbar province, Iraq, supporting combat operations.

They were assigned to the Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Source: DOD