Colorado Welcomes Vice President to Greener Pastures

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 
Contacts: 
Dan Grossman, Environmental Defense Fund, (303) 887-8206 or dgrossman@edf.org
Bill Midcap, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, (303) 283-3528 or bill.midcap@rmfu.org
John Nielsen, Western Resource Advocates, (303) 885-8099 or jnielsen@westernresources.org
 
(Denver, CO – May 26, 2009). As Vice President Joe Biden hosts the fourth meeting of the White House Task Force on the Middle Class today in Denver, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Environmental Defense Fund, and Western Resource Advocates are launching a new multi-media project highlighting “clean energy pioneers” who are creating new jobs and building the green economy in Colorado and the West.    www.cleanenergypioneers.org
 
“The winds of opportunity are blowing briskly across Colorado’s eastern plains, creating greener pastures for farmers and rural communities,” said Bill Midcap, Director of Renewable Energy Development for the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.   “RMFU is bringing together companies who want to develop renewable energy projects with farmers and ranchers who have proven resources.” 
 
The Rocky Mountain West has abundant clean energy resources including wind, solar and geothermal.   Over the past five years, 2,300 megawatts of new wind projects have been deployed in the region, enough electrical power to serve the needs of about 1.7 million homes.
 
“In rural communities like Peetz, Colorado, new wind projects are powering economic growth for local farmers while meeting the region’s electricity needs,” said John Nielsen, Western Resource Advocates Energy Program Director.  
 
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, EDF, and Western Resource Advocates unveiled a new website today that showcases the potential for a green economic boom in the Rocky Mountain West. Visit www.cleanenergypioneers.org to learn about Colorado’s farmers harnessing the wind, to see the premier of a new video about Peetz in Northeast Colorado where the winds of opportunity are blowing briskly, and to recommend your own Clean Energy Pioneer. 
 
“Colorado is pioneering the new clean energy economy, demonstrating to the nation that we can grow our economy while reducing pollution,” said Dan Grossman, Environmental Defense Fund’s Rocky Mountain Office Director.
 
Colorado’s largest power provider, Xcel Energy, is soliciting requests for 1,800 megawatts of new power.   It recently received bids for 14,000 megawatts of renewable energy including 10,000 megawatts of wind, far exceeding the resource request.   The overwhelming response to Xcel’s resource solicitation reflects the extensive growth in Colorado’s clean energy solutions.    
 
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Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, is a progressive, grassroots organization dedicated to achieving profitability for family farmers and ranchers, promoting stewardship of land and water resources, delivering safe, healthy food to consumers, and strengthening rural communities through education, legislation, and cooperation, visit www.rmfu.org
 
Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.
 
Western Resource Advocates, protects the West’s land, air, and water recognizing that success can only come from working collaboratively with other conservation groups, hunters and fishermen, ranchers, American Indians, and all those who seek a sustainable future for this remarkable part of the country, visit www.westernresourceadvocates.org

One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 3 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund