Bill Ritter sees making the business case for clean energy as one of the solutions. Ritter was the 41st governor of the state of Colorado. During his term, Ritter established Colorado as a leader in renewable energy by building the Center for the New Energy Economy (CNEE) at Colorado State University. As Director for the CNEE, Ritter aims to support the growth of a national clean energy economy through the help of thought leaders in clean energy research, development and commercialization.

Ritter earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Colorado State University in 1978 and a law degree from the University of Colorado in 1981.