April 21, 2011

Tomorrow is Earth Day
Since the first Earth Day in 1970, Americans have worked to make the air we breathe and the water we drink safe and clean. Four decades later, we know our dependence on foreign oil is threatening the economic future of our children and grandchildren. But we also know the challenges we face are matched with opportunities. I remember the first Earth Day when I was a student at Jefferson High School and we built a fence out of aluminum cans and then turned them in for recycling. Back then, recycling was a pretty novel thing but now it is common place all across the country.

The labs, universities, and small businesses in Colorado are leading the way to a sustainable energy future. Right here in our district we have NREL, the finest renewable energy lab in the world, with over 2,300 employees and over 5,500 direct and indirect employees working on the technologies to make America energy independent. We also have all of the great energy research at the Colorado School of Mines, sustainable development at Belmar in Lakewood, one of the most sustainable federal campuses at the Denver Federal Center and my District Office is located in a LEED – EB Silver and Energy Star building.

GE recently announced the purchase of Primestar Solar in Arvada and is looking to build America’s largest solar panel plant. Primestar Solar’s technology emerged from research that took place at NREL. Recently, the entire Colorado Congressional Delegation, the Governor and research universities sent a letter to GE encouraging them to build this factory in Colorado.

I will continue to fight for policies to make America energy independent, create good jobs and protect our water and air. I am proud to represent a district and state that is leading the way in renewable energy growth and job creation.

Out and About in the District