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| 3/18/2009 4:19:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Journal/Steve Lewis
Governor Bill Ritter talks with a group assembled at the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Farm and Ranch Enterprise on Tuesday afternoon on the Ute Mountain Reservation. At right are Terry Knight, director of the Cultural Resources Office of UMUT, Troy Eid, outside counsel for UMUT, and Hew Hallock, southern regional representative for the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office. |
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Ritter tours Towaoc
Discusses solar possibilities with Ute Mountain Ute tribe
Kristen Plank
Journal Staff Writer
The town of Towaoc and Ute Mountain Ute tribal leaders showed some hospitality to Gov. Bill Ritter Tuesday during his trip to the Ute Mountain Ute Farm and Ranch.
The governor's first stop through the southwestern corner of Colorado was a small business financial forum at Ft. Lewis College in Durango. Ritter then made his way to Cortez for a quick two hour tour to meet with tribal leaders regarding renewable energy resources and possibilities on the reservation.
During a meeting consisting of roughly 25 individuals, from officials in Denver to Ute tribal members, discussion focused mostly on an interest in solar power.
"I would like to bring renewable energy here," said Tribal Chairman Ernest House Sr. at the beginning of the farm and ranch tour. "We are in the furthest southwestern part of Colorado and the prescription is right here - solar energy."
Feasibility studies that had been done on the area's potential solar energy resources found that the area is "at the edge" of solar power potential, but there are a number of days of sunshine that would make a solar project profitable, said Troy Ralstin, executive director of the tribe.
"We are looking at solar energy from two different ways - to generate revenue and to save costs," Ralstin said.
House said the solar power could be used to generate energy for the reservation. Tribal members would also benefit educationally from installing a new renewable energy source, he said, which is another reason to "tap into solar energy" on the reservation.
"We are doing a lot of different things as a tribe and we are very proud to be here," he said. "We want to make a plan to do what we need to do (with solar energy.)
"We look forward to working closely with the governor and to continue to have that open door policy."
Ritter spoke briefly to the small group afterwards. He stated that there are various opportunities for the tribe to become involved in a renewable energy venture.
"Given the amount of land and sun here, I do think it's worthwhile - I think you should explore," Ritter said. "A lot of companies are interested in large-scale solar.
"We can help and we'll work with you to introduce you to these different companies."
A brief tour around the farm and ranch headquarters was given afterwards, as General Manager Paul Evans explained how the ranch - or the "garden in the desert" - works.
The entire ranch, which started over 20 years ago, now consists of over 7,7000 acres of irrigated land, with the majority of the farm dedicated to the production of alfalfa hay, Evans said. Other crops include wheat, corn, and sunflower seed production; a 700-head cow-calf operation is also located on the ranch.
Technology plays a large role at the farm and ranch, Evans said, with remotely tracked applicators in the ground and GPS-operated tractors tilling the land.
"We have a database that can find out anything from an agronomic standpoint," Evans said. "This farm is very technologically advanced and the tribe has given us the freedom to make it profitable."
Terry Knight, who works for the tribe's cultural resources department, highlighted the award-winning ranch's roots to Ritter during the discussion.
"These guys can make anything out of them rocks," Knight said to the laughing crowd. "This farm is a prime example of modern technology. We built it all here."
Before Ritter left, House presented Ritter with a framed tribal seal in thanks for the visit. On the ride back through Towaoc with the governor, tribal members briefly discussed housing, the detention center, and security problems on the reservation.
Ritter's last stop for the day was another tour in Durango late in the afternoon.
Reach Kristen Plank at kristenp@cortezjournal.com.
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