Ritter launches 'energy challenge' for Colorado businesses

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter on Thursday launched the "Colorado Industrial Energy Challenge," an effort to curb energy use among big businesses in the state, starting off with 13 companies.

"These companies are strong partners in our work to make Colorado a world leader in energy efficiency and clean-tech innovations," Ritter said in a statement. "Reducing energy consumption isn't just good for the environment, it also will help these companies stay competitive, create jobs, increase America's energy security and strengthen Colorado's New Energy Economy."

The challenge is a voluntary program for industrial facilities that rack up more than $200,000 in annual energy bills. Companies that join the project agree to set a five-year goal of reducing energy use, report total energy consumption for the base year and report on their progress every year.

The challenge is sponsored by the Governor's Energy Office (GEO) through a competitive grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project is leading and coordinating the program on behalf of the GEO.

Read more in the Denver Business Journal.