June 24, 2010 07:05 PM UTC

Hickenlooper Defends Petroleum Club Remarks

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• by: Colorado Pols

Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Hickenlooper’s supporters are pushing back on reports yesterday about statements he made in a debate with GOP opponent Scott McInnis at the Denver Petroleum Club earlier this week. In particular, the report from the AP’s Steven Paulson of the event seems to have focused on one portion of Hickenlooper’s remarks pertaining to new oil and gas drilling rules enacted last year–not backing off Hickenlooper’s assertion that certain rules are “onerous,” supporters point to the context in which they were offered. The Colorado Independent reported yesterday:

Candidates for governor Democrat John Hickenlooper and Republican Scott McInnis faced off on energy policy at the Denver Athletic Club Tuesday before a crowd of roughly 250 oil and gas executives and environmentalists. McInnis came out strong against recent regulations on the industry, which he again argued cost the state jobs, as he has argued countless times over the past year. Hickenlooper said regulations could certainly be tweaked but he argued they played a minimal role in industry unemployment in the state…

Hickenlooper said that in speaking with the major oil and gas companies, he has come to believe the 2008 regulations were a minor cause in the recent downturn in oil and gas jobs in the state. Representatives of the industry concede that the low price for gas was a large factor as were oil and gas discoveries in other parts of the country…

Hickenlooper later told the press that his concern over coal was based on climate change. He would prefer to develop clean coal technology and expand use of natural gas, which he said would help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the ballroom, earlier, he qualified his stance on climate change.

“If you look at the potential for climate change- and I know there are a great many skeptics in this room- I am not a crazy, saying that it is happening at this [high] level. But it is a risk, right? Climate change models- there are obviously some holes in some of the evidence- but it is something that we should be aware of.”

We’ve spoken to some of the attendees, and most do seem to agree that the distinction between McInnis and Hickenlooper–particularly on issues such as wholesale repeal versus “tweaking” drilling regulations, as well as Hickenlooper’s call for disclosure of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing–was clearer than some news reports suggested.

The debate, which was moderated by 9NEWS’ Adam Schrager, will be partly shown Sunday on Your Show with the rest made available online. It’s safe to say that even in the ‘proper context,’ some Democrats will not be entirely satisfied; but the consensus we hear is Hickenlooper’s remarks at this debate did represent an “improvement” over previous outings. Hickenlooper’s biggest risk, a consequence of his personal affability, is that he might fail to show enough of a clear difference from McInnis to turn out the Democratic base. Energy isn’t the only issue, but it’s an important one, and along with Hickenlooper’s dim view of tax break repeals passed this year to balance the state’s budget, he hasn’t really had a vehicle to publicly challenge McInnis’ agenda.

He needs one, and the polls say he needs it soon.