GOLDEN, Colo.—Colorado Sen. Mike Bennet drove around the grounds of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Monday in style: First, a specially modified hybrid car, then a car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
It was Bennet’s first tour of the federal lab in Golden that is expected to play a key role in the Obama administration’s push for increased energy efficiency and renewable energy. Bennet was appointed by Gov. Bill Ritter in January to take over for fellow Democrat Ken Salazar, now the Interior secretary.
Bennet says he wanted to visit NREL early in his tenure because energy is an important issue in Colorado and nationally. Renewable energy is a major focus of the $787 billion federal stimulus bill.
Bennet, a former Denver public schools superintendent, also visited a Lakewood high school Monday and planned to meet with Education Secretary Arne Duncan Tuesday in Denver.
