Organization Receives 'Governor's Excellence In Renewable Energy' Award

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter recently presented Western Resource Advocates (WRA) with his Governor's Excellence in Renewable Energy award for advancing renewable energy in Colorado.

WRA was nominated for helping Xcel Energy to shift away from using coal and instead increase its use of renewable energy as part of its electrical resource plan. In 2008, WRA played a major role in convincing the Public Utilities Commission to approve the innovative resource plan. Because of actions like this, Colorado is now recognized as a national leader in reducing the output of greenhouse gases that lead to climate change.

"We're honored to be recognized by Governor Ritter," said Karin P. Sheldon, WRA's Executive Director. "Our efforts would have had greater difficulty succeeding in Colorado without Governor Ritter's visionary leadership for a healthy environment and a green economy."

"Governor Ritter has created an exciting environment in which businesses and NGOs can work together for a New Energy Economy," said John Nielsen, WRA's energy program director. "WRA received this award because we work effectively with utilities that are increasingly interested in clean energy."

WRA is working in other western states on similar initiatives to help utilities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing these global warming agents is of particular importance in the West because climate change's impacts may cause extreme weather events, loss of snow pack for recreation and spring water flows, and habitat and species loss.

SOURCE: WRA