Republicans criticized Gov. Bill Ritter for focusing on renewable energy at the expense of coal, oil and natural gas, and said they will take their argument to the voters this fall.

The group wants to lease the natural gas-rich Roan Plateau next month, begin oil-shale mining immediately and roll back wildlife-protection rules under consideration by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, said he will introduce bills next year to make it easier for gas and oil companies to drill.

"I want to give these guys a green light to increase their supply in Colorado quickly," Brophy said.

The commission is scheduled to vote on the new wildlife rules next month.

The positions aren't new to Republicans, but they will be "aggressive" about the Roan Plateau and oil shale on the campaign trail this year, said Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction. Penry does not face re-election until 2010.

No Senate seats around Southwest Colorado are up for election this year. Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, will finish his last term in 2010. Most of the GOP candidates at Monday's event were from the Front Range.

Don Ytterberg lives in Evergreen, and he's challenging incumbent Democrat Dan Gibbs in a district that stretches through the Interstate 70 ski towns. He said Colorado's oil shale shouldn't be tied up over environmental concerns. He also called for more refineries, which typically are hard to build, in part because people don't want to live near one.

"I would support putting a refinery in our district," Ytterberg said in response to a reporter's question.

Penry called on Ritter to not protest the planned leasing of Western Colorado's Roan Plateau next month. Ritter proposed last year that the federal government lease the plateau in phases over several decades, to maximize the auction prices companies will pay for drilling rights.

Penry and other Republican lawmakers supported Ritter's plan at the time.

But the U.S. Bureau of Land Management didn't accept Ritter's plan, and Penry said it's time to get behind the BLM plan, which still includes strict land protections.

"If we can't drill the Roan Plateau under these incredibly restrictive measures at a time that gas costs four bucks a gallon, I would submit we're not serious about energy independence," Penry said.

The Roan Plateau contains natural gas, not oil, and natural gas can't be used in most cars. Penry said cars should be switched over to handle natural gas, along the lines of a plan being promoted through TV commercials by Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens.

Ritter replied Monday that he will not endorse the BLM's plan.

Conservation groups have sued the BLM to try to stop the Aug. 14 Roan auction. Ritter said he hopes Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., can get an amendment passed to delay the auction.

"We're still going to be stubborn about water and air, about the impact to local communities and the impact on wildlife," Ritter said.

Drilling permits in Colorado have increased sevenfold in the last decade, Ritter said.

"This state is doing its part," he said.

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