Bill Ritter, Jr., is the founder and director of the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University, which provides technical assistance to policymakers in creating policies and practices that will facilitate America’s transition to a clean energy economy.

Ritter served as the 41st governor of Colorado for four years. During this time, he established Colorado as a national and international leader in clean energy and signed 57 new energy bills into law, including a 30% Renewable Portfolio Standard and Clean Air Clean Jobs Act, creating thousands of new jobs in the process.

Ritter sits on the board of directors for the Energy Foundation and the Advanced Energy Economy Institute. In addition to serving as governor, Ritter served as the Denver district attorney from 1993 to 2005.

Ritter earned his B.A. in political science from Colorado State University in 1978 and his law degree from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1981.