The Sun is Shining on Colorado, Thanks to Gov. Ritter

A nice article that goes into a little more detail on the ConocoPhillips' recently announced renewable energy research hub in Louisville, Colorado and how Governor Ritter is leading the charge to make Colorado the renewable energy capital of the United States, if not the world. The article, "Research Hub Boosts Colorado Economy," via CNN Money covers much of the groundwork that leaders in Colorado are laying to create economic growth here in that industry.

The only problem I have with the article is that the author decided to get a dissenting opinion from Jon Caldera of the rapidly-dwindling-in-influence, Independence Institute. The goal of this "institute" is to demonize any form of government or as Grover Norquist said, "to get it (government) down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub". Now, in the article Caldera is quoted as saying this:

"As long as there's no government subsidy or corporate welfare, I think it's fantastic," said Jon Caldara, president of the Independence Institute, a conservative think tank. "Unfortunately, renewable energy is one of the largest recipients of corporate welfare. What government does for one industry it needs to do for all."

Perhaps the author did some selective editing and took Mr. Caldera's quote out of context. But as it stands above Caldera contradicts himself in just three sentences. In the first sentence he doesn't want government subsidies or corporate welfare. And then in the third sentence he implies that if there are subsidies or corporate welfare that there needs to be welfare for ALL industries. Now aside from the lunacy of subsidizing every industry the United States has, Mr. Caldera contradicts himself because he says, "What government does for one industry it needs to do for all." Perhaps Mr. Caldera was being a bit tongue-in-cheek, but whatever the case it doesn't help the dialogue. Plus channeling some taxpayer money to this developing industry will help Colorado move faster towards energy independence, create jobs, generate revenue, and help us develop energy forms that are not toxic to our increasingly stressed environment.

Oh and where did he get his statement, "renewable energy is one of the largest recipients of corporate welfare"? Sounds sufficiently vague and false to me.

I'll get off my soapbox now. Let's celebrate the fact that Governor Ritter is guiding Colorado on a path towards the future and not towards the past. Right on!