Thornton Mayor Erik Hansen announced a new initiative to bring "green collar jobs" to Thornton.  I have to say I applaud the mayor's long-stated objectives to bring new jobs to Thornton.  We are very much a bedroom community and having jobs closer to home would go a long ways toward securing a promising future for the city and its residents.  Jobs of the types residents currently work in would keep us in Thornton.  I firmly believe the city is well positioned to make this happen if executed properly.  Medical, bio-technology and high tech industries are ones that we should be pursuing heavily.  We have the land and we have the people - let's do it.

However, I am concerned about this "greening of Thornton" that the mayor seems to be calling for.  These types of ideas rarely come without cost - to the city and to the taxpayer.  He wants the city to take the lead in green initiatives in the hopes this will attract these "green collar jobs."  A great idea in theory but at what cost - not only in terms of money but in other ways?  He talks about wanting to bring bio-fuel and ethanol production to the city.  Fuel production of any type is not a clean industry but hey, at least the employees will be driving Prius'.  Are we to become the next Commerce City with belching, steaming industrial plants? 

 Is that really what we want for the future of Thornton or should we look to more established industries that don't have the risk and cost?