Former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter has joined Freestone Strategies, a Denver-based national lobbying firm, as a partner, according to a press release sent out by the group.

Ritter, a Democrat, served as Colorado’s 41st governor from 2007 to 2011.

“Ritter is a nationally recognized expert on clean energy and clean technology, a sought after public policy mediator and facilitator, and a leading voice on climate and energy policy,” the release stated.

Founded in 2016, Freestone Strategies provides a range of services, including public affairs, media and crisis communications, and government relations with their expertise in issues such as energy, environment, and more.

Ritter, who recently retired as director of the Center on the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University, which he founded in 2011 soon after leaving office, was “looking for a place from which he could continue to engage in the public debate and advocacy around climate and energy,“ according to the release.

Ritter served as Denver district attorney prior to becoming governor. As governor, he focused on clean energy, launching the state’s first initiative in that area, dubbed the New Energy Economy.

He also authored “Powering Forward: What Everyone Should Know About America’s Energy Revolution,” in 2016. He previously served on the board of trustees of The Nature Conservancy.

The new partnership makes Ritter the second former governor to join a political lobbying firm focused on state and federal issues, following his predecessor, Republican Gov. Bill Owens, who joined Greenberg Traurig in 2016.

Ritter will not be at the state Capitol, according to Freestone Strategies.