Former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is in the Twin Cities this week to meet with Gov. Mark Dayton's administration and discuss clean energy. As Colorado governor, Ritter promoted the new energy economy, expanding wind turbine and solar panel manufacturing in the state. Now, as the director of the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University, Ritter is traveling the country and working with governors on energy policy.

While there has been little consensus on energy policy at the federal level, Ritter believes states can lead the way to clean, renewable sources of energy to wean ourselves off foreign oil.

"In Colorado, we tangled with the energy industry, insisting that tighter regulations were needed to protect air, water, wildlife and communities," Ritter wrote in The New York Times. "But with new rules in place, we have proved that protection and production can coexist. Last year we capped our clean energy work with a bill that required shutting down several dirty, inefficient coal plants and replacing them with cleaner energy fuels, principally natural gas."

He'll join The Daily Circuit Tuesday to talk about energy policy and how states can implement better regulations.

KERRI'S TAKEAWAY

It's not just about money; it's about state's enacting strong policies. States can be just as innovative as the federal government.

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