Election 2008

Despite ballot battle, Gov. Ritter promotes natural gas
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau

DENVER - Even though Gov. Bill Ritter wants to raise taxes on the natural-gas industry, he drove around Tuesday in a car powered by Colorado's most plentiful fossil fuel.

Gov. Bill Ritter leaves a renewable-energy conference in a Mercury Grand Marquis powered by natural gas. A company called Clean Energy loaned him the car for the day to promote natural gas as an alternative fuel in vehicles.

"You don't have to have a petroleum-based vehicle to get around. Natural gas is a cleaner-burning non-renewable resource. It emits fewer hydrocarbons," Ritter said.

The photo-op was a slight change in tone for the governor, who is quick to promote wind and solar power - he even wore a silver tie Tuesday that he had custom printed with a windmill design. But he often says Coloradans are "doing our part" in supplying natural gas to the nation.

Ritter is locked in a multimillion-dollar battle with the gas industry over his Amendment 58, which would eliminate a tax credit for gas and oil companies.

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