Old politics meets new energy today when President Barack Obama signs a $787 billion economic stimulus bill in Denver.

A who's who of Colorado Democrats are expected at the ceremony at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science - but they likely won't be on the stage with Obama as he signs the first significant piece of legislation of his presidency.

Instead, men and women who have worked in solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy are expected to be front and center.

"They are not going to have lawmakers on the stage," said Tara Trujillo of Sen. Mark Udall's office.

Instead, the focus will turn to those who will be at the forefront of the stimulus legislation, including leaders of companies driving what Gov. Bill Ritter has dubbed a "new-energy economy."

Udall will not attend - he had a prior family commitment, Trujillo said. But Sen. Michael Bennet and U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette, Betsy Markey, Ed Perlmutter and Jared Polis are all expected to join Ritter, Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien and other Democratic officeholders at the ceremony.

Vice President Joe Biden also is expected to attend.

Among state lawmakers expected at the signing are House Speaker Terrance Carroll, Senate President Peter Groff and Sen. Chris Romer.

The choice of the museum is symbolic - an array of solar panels was installed on its roof in June. Today they provide from 3 percent to 5 percent of the building's power.

Ted Ramsey is director of energy services at Hybrid Energy Group, the company that arranged financing for the museum's solar array.

Ramsey, who plans to attend the signing ceremony, has high hopes for the stimulus package because it extends, for several years, a series of tax credits for solar investments. He said he hopes to see dozens of more projects across the state like the one at the museum.

"This project has been a real success," Ramsey said. "We're grateful we have legislation that will help us get farther down this road."

The event, which is by invitation only, is expected to draw about 250 people.

Exact details - such as Obama's arrival time - were not released by the White House on Monday.

But it was apparent that he chose Denver in part to highlight efforts made in recent years to develop Earth-friendly energy in a way that also drives economic growth. And it appeared that Obama planned to make an example of the ways the stimulus plan, which passed with almost no Republican support, would affect real people and real companies.

Take Vestas, the world's largest wind turbine maker. The company will have a representative at today's bill signing.

Just last week, company leaders spoke of the danger of scaling back operations in the wake of the deepening recession.

The stimulus bill, backers believe, may help stop the skid by offering tax incentives for renewable energy development.

Matthew Caryofilles, the owner of SALT Electric in Denver, will be another of the representatives of local renewable energy companies at the bill signing.

SALT did the wiring on the museum's solar panels as well as similar projects at the Governor's Mansion and the Pepsi Center. But the past few months have seen a slowdown, and the company has had to tighten its belt, Caryofilles said.

Once the stimulus bill is signed, he predicts several projects that have been "percolating" will get under way. Work could begin on some of them by the end of March, he said.

"We can actually grow again," he said.

More than that, Caryofilles said he's happy the stimulus package will allow the country to move forward with new sources of energy and a focus on conservation. Besides tax credits for renewable energy facilities, the legislation also includes billions of dollars for grants to increase energy efficiency and to encourage scientific research.

"Whenever the public has been asked where they want their energy to come from, particularly in Colorado, they've always said they want it to come from somewhere else than where it's currently coming from," he said. "It's what we've wanted."

But the stimulus bill is not without its detractors.

Not a single Republican voted for it in the U.S. House, and only three of the Senate's GOP members supported it.

While Obama is at the museum, Jon Caldara of the free-market Independence Institute, U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, writer Michelle Malkin and former Congressman Bob Beauprez plan to voice their opposition to the measure on the west steps of the state Capitol.

News staff writers Jerd Smith and Sara Burnett contributed to this story.

In the swing

Colorado's swing-state status brought Barack Obama here 10 times during his campaign. Today's visit makes his 11th.

Obama's visits before today:

Denver: 3

Pueblo: 2

Fort Collins: 1

Golden: 1

Grand Junction: 1

Thornton: 1

Westminster: 1

What other newspapers are saying

"Colorado officials have cast the visit as a nod to Colorado's burgeoning renewable energy economy. The state is home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and its more than 300 days of sunshine each year offers potential for solar energy.

But other states, particularly Nevada, are much more dependent on the renewable energy industry. And in terms of generation or capacity, the federal government doesn't put Colorado in the top 10 for renewable energy."

The Hill

"When Mr. Obama signs the stimulus bill in Denver on Tuesday, it will release the biggest influx of federal dollars since the days of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society program. ...

Because the effectiveness of any stimulus plan depends on the money being quickly spent, whether state and local governments can work through the rules and resolve any disputes will have a large impact on the success Mr. Obama's plan has in lifting the economy."

The New York Times

Signing ceremony

* Where: Denver Museum of Nature & Science

* Time: The White House has not released details but may by early afternoon.

* Admission: Invitation only

* Crowd: About 250 people are expected to attend.

Back to Top