Bill Ritter today questioned why Congressman Beauprez attended a ceremony at NREL just months after voting to reduce the agency's budget and cut jobs.
"How in good conscience could Congressman Beauprez attend today's ribbon-cutting ceremony with Energy Secretary Bodman to celebrate the opening of NREL's new Science & Technology Facility?" asked Ritter, who promotes a New Energy Economy as a way to establish Colorado as a national leader in alternative energy. "Congressman Beauprez voted last July to cut NREL's budget by $28 million," Ritter observed. "NREL is one of the best agencies to help lead us to an independent energy future."
In November, 100 members of Congress signed a letter urging the president to fully fund renewable energy programs as authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. "Congressman Beauprez refused to sign the letter," Ritter noted.
In the face of mounting election-year pressure, the President restored enough money in February to save 32 NREL jobs. "When the President visited NREL the next day, there was the Congressman by his side as if he supported NREL all along," Ritter said. "That was hypocritical then, and it was hypocritical today when the Congressman showed up at NREL once again. He's clearly trying to have it both ways."