The world’s growing population will need more and more energy to thrive, and survive, in the 21st century. But how can we produce that energy in a world facing climate change and environmental challenges on top of two wars?
We believe Colorado is uniquely positioned to provide the answer. The only question is: Will our elected leaders allow it?
Under Colorado’s rigorous regulatory framework, among the country’s most protective environmental rules, companies are utilizing state-of-the-art technology and innovation to decrease emissions, reduce leaks, limit venting and flaring and disturb less land. We call it The Colorado Molecule, and it provides important lessons in how our industry can become a critical ally in efforts to combat global climate change and strengthen our environmental security, both here and abroad.
Yet, unlike other energy-producing basins across the country, oil and gas production in Colorado has not recovered to its pre-COVID levels, and some Colorado legislators and activist groups are intent on ensuring it never does.
We can decide to rely on other countries — some of which are hostile to the United States and our interests — to produce our energy for us, or we can do it here at home, in ways that will protect the environment, keep costs low, provide good-paying jobs, and make our country energy secure.
The federal government predicts that global demand for natural gas and natural gas liquids will continue to increase through 2050. Relying solely on wind and solar or other renewables to meet global energy demand is simply not feasible. Technology doesn’t exist to power a stable electric grid solely through renewables, and we don’t have a replacement product for oil, which is needed in everything from our toothbrushes to our clothing to our cellphones and our camping equipment.
Simply put, the world will continue to demand clean, affordable and reliable energy. Let’s heed the call and commit ourselves to policies that make sense. Policies that protect our ecosystems while ensuring our abundant, local resources are responsibly developed, rather than risk our environment by depending on countries with poor standards, poor oversight and poor regulations. And let’s allow the dozens of new rules and regulations that have been enacted in recent years in Colorado to get implemented and analyzed before haphazardly adding new ones.
Instead, some state legislators are pushed by extreme activist groups and campaign donors who want to shut down our domestic energy supply and are seemingly happy to promote environmental degradation that is out-of-sight and out-of-mind by relying on foreign countries to produce our energy.
They have tried to block the sale and use of our natural gas furnaces, water heaters, gas powered lawn and garden equipment, and have requested that Colorado’s regulators ban oil and gas development here during the summer months, if not outright. Some activists want to end all oil and gas permitting within the next six years.
And they don’t care if Colorado families pay more to bear the brunt of their political agendas and their ill-informed policies.
We don’t have to look far to see the impact these policies would have in Colorado.
California is the country’s seventh-largest producer of crude oil (Colorado is fourth), but that state continues to block new development. In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom conceded the state’s approach is not sustainable. He acknowledged that California is “making up for a lack of domestic production from Saudi Arabia, Ecuador and Colombia, and that’s hardly an environmental solution when you look globally.”
On that point, we agree, Gov. Newsom.
Using Colorado oil and gas, we can meet our energy needs and our climate targets while avoiding the challenges faced in California and parts of Europe, where lack of supply has increased prices.
But we need to put political agendas aside to design an energy evolution that realistically delivers affordability, reliability and sustainability for Coloradans.
Gov. Jared Polis has said his tough regulations on oil and natural gas production in Colorado are not meant to ban industry, but instead are meant to provide long-term stability and predictability. Our industry continues to meet this high regulatory bar and works every day to further reduce our emissions. We are counting on that stability in return.
In Colorado, we can show the world the clearest path to a cleaner tomorrow. A path that strengthens our national security, rather than our enemies. A path that bolsters our energy security, rather than weakens it. And a path that fortifies our environmental security, where low emissions, thoughtful oversight, and effective resource production can go hand in hand.
But we need our elected leaders to embrace it and to lead, not follow California and keep-it-in-the-ground activist groups.
Dan Haley is president and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association.
The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Sun’s opinion policy. Learn how to submit a column. Reach the opinion editor at [email protected].
Follow Colorado Sun Opinion on Facebook.
Type of Story: Opinion
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
English (United States) ·