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Governor on West Slope swing

Aspen Times Staff
Aspen, CO Colorado

GLENWOOD SPRINGS ” Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter will swing through the Western Slope Tuesday on a bill-signing spree that includes a stop in Glenwood Springs.

Ritter is slated to ink 12 bills during stops in Frisco, Glenwood and Grand Junction, including several related to gas drilling/exploration and renewable energy development ” three of which were co-sponsored by legislators who represent constituents in the Roaring Fork Valley.



Among the bills scheduled for the governor’s signature is House Bill 1130, which creates a $1 million program allowing the state to fund experimental pine-beetle mitigation and forest-restoration projects (being signed in Frisco); HB 1139, which doubles the portion of severance tax revenues that go directly to impacted communities from 15 percent to 30 percent, and HB 1252, which requires oil-and-gas drillers to minimize surface intrusion and damage by examining the latest drilling technology (both to be signed in Glenwood Springs); HB 1341, which reorganizes the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission so that members represent more balanced interests, and requires the commission to consider public health, environment and wildlife protection when making drilling decisions; and Senate Bill 246, which provides $7 million for community-based renewable energy projects around the state (the latter two will be signed in Grand Junction).

Ritter stops in Frisco, at the Frisco Peninsula, from 9:30 to 10 a.m.




He’ll be in Glenwood Springs, at the Garfield County Courthouse, from 12:30 to 1 p.m., where he’ll sign four bills: HB 1252, related to surface rights; HB 1180, regarding reporting at wellheads; HB 1139, the severance tax measure (co-sponsored by area Rep. Kathleen Curry of Gunnison); and SB 91, which creates a Renewable Resource Generation Development Task Force that will develop a map of areas in Colorado that hold potential to support competition among renewable energy developers for renewable energy projects (co-sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz of Snowmass Village).

The governor will appear in two locations in Grand Junction, signing HB 1301, related to cervical cancer immunizations, and HB 1346, regarding pre-paid inpatient health, at St. Mary’s Hospital from 2:30 to 3 p.m. before heading to Canyon View Park to sign HB 1341, reorganizing the Oil and Gas Commission (co-sponsored by Rep. Curry); SB 246, the Clean Energy Fund bill; and SB 200, regarding uranium mill tailings.