CO-04 (Special Election)
See Full Big Line
(R) Greg Lopez
(R) Trisha Calvarese
90%
10%
President (To Win Colorado)
See Full Big Line
(D) Joe Biden*
(R) Donald Trump
80%
20%↓
CO-01 (Denver)
See Full Big Line
(D) Diana DeGette*
90%
CO-02 (Boulder-ish)
See Full Big Line
(D) Joe Neguse*
90%
CO-03 (West & Southern CO)
See Full Big Line
(D) Adam Frisch
(R) Jeff Hurd
(R) Ron Hanks
40%
30%
20%
CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado)
See Full Big Line
(R) Lauren Boebert
(R) Deborah Flora
(R) J. Sonnenberg
30%↑
15%↑
10%↓
CO-05 (Colorado Springs)
See Full Big Line
(R) Dave Williams
(R) Jeff Crank
50%↓
50%↑
CO-06 (Aurora)
See Full Big Line
(D) Jason Crow*
90%
CO-07 (Jefferson County)
See Full Big Line
(D) Brittany Pettersen
85%↑
CO-08 (Northern Colo.)
See Full Big Line
(D) Yadira Caraveo
(R) Gabe Evans
(R) Janak Joshi
60%↑
35%↓
30%↑
State Senate Majority
See Full Big Line
DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
80%
20%
State House Majority
See Full Big Line
DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
95%
5%
June 20, 2008 09:06 PM UTC
24 Comments
They apparently have no qualms peddling fear and telling BOLD-FACED lies
that the rules would not shut down all oil and gas for 90 days at a time. But they keep selling their lies, in expensive ads, in viral emails to employees who legitimately worry about their jobs in tough economic times. Myself, I was taught lying is wrong. I like to think of myself as someone with integrity. The COGA crowd seems to have no such reservations. Wait until Monday at the Paramount, I’m sure they’ll be up to it again. Feeding lies to scare their employees, when as soon as the gas plays out they’ll dump them just like they did on Black Sunday.
is that if we’d just let them drill ANWR and off our Florida beaches and on our western wild lands everything would be great but somehow, even after all the years their pet pols have been in power, they’ve been blocked from doing this and supplying us with all the oil we need.
They don’t mention that they already hold leases to 65 million acres they could drill tomorrow with no special permission from the l federal government or anyone else. With their record busting profits they could certainly afford to develop what they already have. But why? they love the high prices and huge profits.
This is ALL to distract us so they can continue to squeeze every drop of profit out of us for as long as they can. We’re supposed to let them drill wild lands and offshore and spend the next five to ten years waiting to see anything out of these projects and hoping that, when it finally comes on line, they really will give us a price break. Ha!
In general, we’d be much better off with conservation that would do us some good starting today and spending the intervening years developing a whole new energy economy with a whole new supply of good jobs and innovations. Why not? we got to the moon, didn’t we?
Here in Colorado, when the oil companies start handing us their statistics we need to remember that these people will say anything to manipulate us into giving them the means to milk us dry at the lowest cost to them possible.
I’m sure everyone that has an opinion knows what the new regulations are and how they affect the industry. I am also sure every one that has an opinoin also would not mind telling a guy that works in the oil field that he needs to find a new job, becuase it is better for the environment.
The new regs are BAD for the State of Colorado. Mostly rural Colorado.
Out of all the interests added to the conservation commission appointed by Ritter, not one is an economist. Tell me how that has Colorado’s best interests in mind. There was no impact study done to show how the regulations would damage or improve the oil and gas industry or Colorado communities. Only opinions that the new regs would be better for the environment are offered as justifiation for the regs.
You can beat up the industry for making money and using numbers that dont match one source. But dont start thinking the people of this industry deserve to be treated like this or think that our State will be better off because of these new regulations.
And I know that 10,000 jobs are not going to be lost because of this rule-making.
There in fact has been substantial economic analysis done on how economies function in resource-extractive dominated communities, and how a more measured pace (rather than drill, drill, drill) is better for rural economies in the long run.
The Commission has long been dominated by O&G industry appointees; having a balancing voice on the Commission may not sit well with an industry that was used to getting its way, but it is good for the farmers and other residents of Colorado.
It is the purpose of government to determine what the appropiate level of constraints are. So when you complain that there should be no constraints – I suggest you move to Somalia.
Now if you want to talk about what constraints are appropiate – I’m all in favor of that. But if we want to increase employment, lets add lots of environmental requirements because the O&G companies will have to hire more people to implement them.
Instead of just parroting talking points that your boss gave you. How, in detail, are the new regs bad for the state of Colorado?
because there is no credible analysis to show it. same with bringing Colorado’s severance tax in line with our neighboring states. sure, they’ll name mysterious companies (like our fine GOP state senators do) that are leaving the state, but ask them to name some companies.
…total number of drilling rigs in the state over time? My guess is it has increased here which shows that the industry does not find what’s coming a major problem.
as have all other measures of how much the industry is invested in Colorado. Several majors companies–Chevron, Exxon, Schlumberger–as well as the current players, Williams, Bill Barrett, have all announced or are in process of building new facilities, opening new facilities, developing new fields. The idea that oil and gas companies are fearful that they will have to leave the state is bullshit. Read their investor pages and learn how eager they are about drilling in Colorado. Its all rosy scenarios and bullish projections–no discussion of pending doom. SO the companies are either guilty of do disclosing risks to potential investors or are lying to Coloradans and their workers.
As Colorado Media Matters has noted, in Colorado alone the active oil and gas well count has increased nearly every month since January 2002, and the state has “experienced a sixfold increase in drilling permits since 1999,” according to a May 18 New York Times Magazine article.
Here’s the link to the state’s well tally:
http://oil-gas.state.co.us/Lib…
Want to bet the number doesn’t flatten out after the new rules take effect, with oil at $125+ per barrel?
but you’re right, it won’t flatten out. massive new national pipelines have recently been installed and other ones are on the way. millions of dollars in new infrastructure have gone in in the last 8 years; they’re not going anywhere until they Drain Colorado First, and then they’ll be gone in a flash.
the roan plan envisions a 30-year operation.
They’ll be gone in a flash. But you’re absolutely right. The workers and rigs won’t be going anywhere soon. My point exactly.
Billy, Billy, Billy
I’m sure you know the difference between oil and natural gas. Hint: One ends up in your car, the other one doesn’t.
We’ve already increased drilling rates sixfold since 1999, and still the price of our home heating bill goes up. Why? Because of all those fancy new pipelines taking natural gas to the east and west coast.
They drill more, we pay more, they make a lot more. I’m sure that sounds fair to you.
Note: If those noble, patriotic gas companies could make a couple more bucks selling our gas to the commies that lurk in Dick Cheney’s fantasies, you know they would.
As for the rate of growth flattening, that’s a good thing if you consider what’s best for Colorado.
Unrestricted growth is the war cry of the cancer cell. We’ve got 34,000 wells in this state and industry tells us they’re aiming to drill 120,000 more over the next 30 years. Now is the time to take a hard look at what’s happening and update a rule book that’s been overwhelmed by your industry’s success.
How about a little balance? About rules that allow you to make money but protect the Colorado that the rest of us love?
that should read. I cannot type today.
and (same article)
it goes on…
keep in mind that lying to investors can get you fired, put in jail, and trash your company.
But lying to the residents of the state – no downside.
Gee, which is more likely to be the truth…
ones a crime, the other merely unethical and manipulative
1. I do not work in the oil and gas industry, and do have a boss giving me talking points.
2. I know that oil means crude oil and gas mean natural gas.
The two issues I am concerned with are:
1. The tax rate is increasing by about 4x the current rate, and the fees for new permits are going up by about the same amount. Forcing some well owners to simply not put their wells into production – reducing the amount of work for the people that make that happen. Multiply that by a few thousand wells that translates into a few thousand less jobs.
2. The new regulations state that all the equipment used to extract oil must be updated to meet new enviromental standards. Not a problem, except for the equipment must be updated the day these new rules take affect. Translation: Many wells will be shut down, 1/2 of all active wells in Northeastern Colorado according to most estimates.
Everyone knows what happens when you cut an industries growth, they cut jobs. Everyone knows what happens when you cut an industries production by 1/2, it cuts jobs. Alot of farmers own oil wells, so these new rules are not good for farmers in general.
…is just a bigger pittance.
If your state gasoline tax was a penny, and it became four cents, would you really be all that concerned?
The severance tax, first, should be many times what it is. Gas and oil are natural resources that the governments all but give away so that companies can make a profit. Yes, we need the products, but let’s tax it enough to cover all the public expenses incurred, at the least.
The companies don’t like the severance tax because with a market price for their products, it’s their cost. Tough poops, boys.