When it comes to the environment, gubernatorial candidates Bob Beauprez and Bill Ritter – like most politicians – say they are for it.
“Colorado’s natural environment is what makes our state so unique,” Ritter says in his environment position paper.
There is, however, a marked contrast between the two candidates.
“The real question is how do you approach it?” Beauprez asked in an interview.
“Do you approach it as I prefer to with common sense, cooperatively, trusting and incentivizing and working with people who have their boots on the ground?” Beauprez asked.
“Or do you do it with a sledgehammer and with the heavy hand of government?” the Republican said.
Ritter has staked out climate change and renewable energy as key issues.
The Democrat says he supports the Rocky Mountain Climate organization’s development of a state plan to address climate change and sees state government building upon that work.
“We believe the governor should have an initiative inside the office to deal with climate change,” Ritter said in an interview.
As for renewable energy, Ritter says he would find a way to offer more incentives for the development of wind, solar power and biofuels.
“We’re the ninth-windiest state, the sixth-sunniest state and have all sorts of federal agencies and universities and colleges focusing their research on this issue,” the Democrat said. “Renewable energy is part of our 21st century.”
Beauprez is emphasizing his Colorado Habitat Initiative.
The initiative would set aside tax revenue and money from energy companies for a fund to be used for “habitat enhancement and off-site mitigation in energy-impacted areas.”
“We’ve got a huge challenge in front of us in trying to maintain our wildlife habitat while still trying to go after the energy supplies that we all know we need,” Beauprez said.
On the key issue of water supplies, Beauprez supported the failed Referendum A in 2003 – which would have provided for the construction of reservoirs and diversion of water from one river basin to another.
“We’ve doubled our population in the last 30 years and increased water storage by a mere 16 percent,” he said.
“Fact is, we’re not going to completely conserve our way out of this problem,” Beauprez said. “What else do you do? You augment existing storage. And you build some new storage where you can because we must.”
While Ritter says he didn’t support Referendum A, he says he isn’t opposed to building or expanding water-storage projects. Both candidates support intensifying current conservation efforts.
“We’ve got to establish an ethic that says water is a scarce resource and develop a culture around efficient water use,” Ritter said.
The National League of Conservation Voters – a Washington, D.C.-based environmental group – has consistently given Beauprez low ratings.
The group criticized Beauprez’s 2003 vote supporting the Bush administration’s national energy bill, which included a liability waiver for producers of the gasoline additive MTBE – a potential human carcinogen.
The League named Beauprez one of its 2006 “Dirty Dozen.”
“If you happen to have an R behind your name and you’re in a competitive seat, suddenly you’re a part of the dirty dozen or bottom 10 or you get an F,” Beauprez said. “Go figure.”
As Denver’s district attorney, Ritter has no environmental voting record and has received the endorsement of the Colorado Conservation Voters Action Fund.
“Anytime someone who has been a legislative official and runs for a higher office, they have a problem,” said Colorado College political science professor Bob Loevy.
“Mr. Ritter has the luxury of being district attorney and not having to go on record. He can now take all of the perfect positions,” Loevy said.
Typically, the environment has been a campaign issue in Colorado gubernatorial races but not much of a factor after the election, Loevy said.
“Our governor is about in the middle rank where powers are concerned,” Loevy said. “They really can’t do much without the state legislature’s support.”
“Two of our more environmentally sensitive governors, particularly Dick Lamm in the 1970s and ’80s and Roy Romer in the the 1980s and ’90s were basically frustrated about their environmental roles by the legislature,” Lovey said.
Staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer can be reached at 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
WATER –
Do you support new, big water projects or the expansion of existing ones? How do you balance the Front Range’s water demands with the needs of the Western Slope?
Beauprez: Working collaboratively, the West Slope and the Front Range can arrive at mutually agreeable solutions to our state’s water issues. I support creation of new projects, expansion of existing projects and proper maintenance of existing water storage facilities. Appropriate conservation is also key.
Ritter: My plan calls for maximizing supplies through a mix of conservation, reuse, efficiency, cooperation and voluntary crop-to-city water agreements. Additional storage projects may be needed. Expanding and improving existing facilities first must be considered before building new ones.
AIR QUALITY –
How can the Denver area continue to meet federal clean air standards for ozone? Do you support Gov. Owens’ proposal to kill the vehicle emissions testing program?
Beauprez: To ensure we maintain compliance, we must continue to implement the Early Ozone Action Plan to ensure we are reducing the emissions it targeted. The emissions testing program should be eliminated. Benefits are minimal, and it costs motorists time and money for no demonstrable benefit.
Ritter: I believe in the merits of a recently formulated plan that calls for more extensive limits on VOC emissions from oil and gas drilling, use of lower-volatility gasoline and a public education campaign. Depending on the success of remote sensing, I would be open to phasing out the current emissions program.
FORESTS –
With devastation being wrought upon our forests by the pine beetle as well as increasingly dangerous fire conditions in the urban interface, what are your plans to help Colorado achieve a safer and healthier forest?
Beauprez: This situation requires participation from federal, state, local and private interests. Having introduced legislation in Congress to reduce the fire threat along the urban-interface, I understand that this must be a collaborative effort.
Ritter: We must begin by strategic thinning of forests. Thinned forests make trees more resistant to the beetle and remove fuel for fires.
