LONGMONT — A down-on-his luck Coloradan who got hired by a company that received stimulus funds nearly upstaged Vice President Joe Biden today at an event touting the impact of the recovery program.
Duane Bartley said he was out of work, his wife lost her fledgling veterinarian business and things were so bleak they didn’t even bother sending Christmas cards.
Then the Watkins resident, who grew up in Salida, got a call from UQM Technologies, a Longmont company considered a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance, energy-efficient electric drive systems. The firm received $45 million in stimulus funds to build a new manufacturing facility to expand operations.
Bartley, who has an electrical engineering degree, got hired in April. The family plans to send out Christmas cards now, never mind that it’s almost May.
“Besides — it’s Colorado,” Bartley said. “It just snowed.”
That got a huge laugh from the crowd of more than 600, many in the green-energy field, who were gathered at what will bed UQM’s new headquarters and manufacturing plant.
“There’s no question the stimulus program is a big deal for us,” said Bill Rankin, president and CEO of UQM.
Biden pointed out that UQM was matching the stimulus grant “dollar for dollar” so it could build a larger plant and employ more workers.
When Biden walked onto the stage — nearly an hour late — he was flanked by Bartley, Gov. Bill Ritter, U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Fort Collins, and U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colorado.
“We like to call northern Colorado the Silicon Valley of the West,” Markey said.
Biden concluded his speech at 1:45 p.m. by saying “And may God protect our troops.”
Biden is headed to Denver next for a fund-raiser for Markey, who is seeking a second term.
Those in the crowd included Tony Frank and Joe Blake, president and chancellor, respectively, of Colorado State University; Longmont City Councilwoman Katie Witt; Tom Plant, director of the Governor’s Energy Office; and Mark Driscoll, president of First National Bank.
Earlier this morning at the new UQM facility, Gerry Olow glanced over at the gleaming white bus soon to be shipped to a transit agency in California. Asked about the engine in the rear of the bus, Olow shooked his head.
“Motor,” he corrected. “It’s a motor, not an engine.”
Dozens of visitors to UQM Technologies checked out the first all-electric composite bus, sitting on the seats and and looking out the windows.
“Route 197,” the sign above the windshield read. “Pamona.”
When guests arrived thhis morning, they were able to check out various pieces of equipment the company is helping to power. The bus. A car. A truck. A piece of heavy equipment.
The bus was built by Proterra in Golden, where Olow is employed as a technical writer. He wrote the manuals for how to drive and repair the buses.
Olow said the motor, located in the rear of the bus, has enough power for a 45-minute route, and only takes minutes to repower.
Sarah Reeves, whose husband is an engineer at Proterra, said it was exciting to see the vehicles and to be part of the Biden event.
“It’s a great business to be in,” she said. “The green thing is the future, especially in this administration.”
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com.
