May 14, 2008 07:35 PM UTC

Mark Udall Up With First Campaign Ad

•  
• by: Colorado Pols

According to a press release from Democrat Mark Udall’s Senate campaign, this ad will run statewide.

UDALL IN FIRST TELEVISION AD:

ON ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND COLORADO’S NEW ENERGY ECONOMY,

“WE’VE GOT TO GET THIS RIGHT”

First Ad of Senate Campaign Will Run Statewide

U.S. Senate candidate Mark Udall’s campaign released its first television ad today, highlighting Udall’s long record of standing up for Colorado’s new energy economy and building American energy independence.

“Energy independence has been one of the central issues of my work for Colorado since 1997, because it’s one of the most important things we can get done for families in this state and for the future of our country,” said Congressman Udall.  “That’s why I chose this ad to introduce our campaign to Colorado voters.  We’ve simply got to get this right.”  

The ad will be the first aired by a candidate in this year’s Colorado Senate campaign.

“Mark Udall has spent his entire public service career working to build a new energy economy in Colorado, lower energy costs for Colorado families, and strengthen our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil,” said Udall campaign manager Mike Melanson.  “Mark will always look out for Colorado, and nothing shows that more than his long history of bipartisan leadership on this issue.”

The new ad, titled “Stand,” will run on television across the state of Colorado.  It can be viewed at http://www.markudall.com/stand.  A transcript follows:

“Stand” (:30)

UDALL:         Standing on your own.  That’s just the Colorado way.

                  And it’s what America’s got to do with our energy policy.

                  Which is why I’ve led Republicans and Democrats to end our addiction to                    foreign oil…

                  Develop renewable fuels…

                  And provide tax incentives to grow Colorado’s new energy economy.

                  We need energy solutions, green jobs, and a cleaner future for Colorado.

                  I’m Mark Udall, and I approved this message, because we’ve gotta get this                    right.

*********

Some Highlights of Mark Udall’s Record on the Renewable Energy Economy

Mark Udall…

“a key figure in the drive to put Colorado out front on renewable-energy development.”  [Denver Post, 10/15/2006]

“a driving force in the proposal to require more renewable energy use in Colorado.”  [Denver Post, 10/17/2004]

“working to make Colorado a national leader on renewable energy for more than a decade…at the forefront in promoting renewable energy legislation.”  [Daily Camera, 11/17/2007]

Mark Udall was a critical leader in the passage of Colorado’s Renewable Electricity Standard, one of the first such standards in the country.  Udall began in 1997 by authoring and working for Renewable Energy Standard (RES) legislation in the Colorado Legislature.  He later joined former Republican State House Speaker Lola Spradley to barnstorm the state and fight for passage of a state RES through Amendment 37.   Colorado voters approved the initiative in 2004, making Colorado one of the first states in the country to enact a renewable electricity standard.

The passage of Amendment 37 has spurred intense economic growth for Colorado’s economy.  The Renewable Energy Standard will mean an estimated economic impact of $250 million in additional paid wages and the expansion of Colorado’s share of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product by $1 billion by the year 2020. [“Energy for Colorado’s Economy: Creating Jobs and Economic Growth with Renewable Energy,” Environment Colorado, February 2007]

Udall authored and passed bipartisan legislation to establish a federal Renewable Energy Standard in the U.S. House.  That legislation, which requires electric utilities to acquire 15 percent of their electricity from wind, solar and other renewable energy sources by 2020, was narrowly blocked in the Senate.

Udall was one of the first in Congress to recognize the energy potential of biofuels.  In 1999 he introduced the Biomass Research and Development Act, to create new programs in the Departments of Energy and Agriculture that would develop and promote the use of biofuels.  

Udall has introduced a variety of legislation intended to provide incentives for the increased development and use of renewable sources of energy, including measures that would direct the Secretary of Energy to implement a research and development strategy for increased use of hybrid systems, legislation to increase the energy efficiency of schools, and legislation to increase funding for Defense Department programs in alternative energy and advanced power technology.

Udall has been Co-Chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus since 1999.  Under his leadership, Caucus membership has grown by more than 50%, to 219 Members as of October 2007, and has been instrumental in the passage of renewable energy and energy efficiency legislation.