Global warming takes center stage next week in Denver at one of the nation’s top energy- industry forums.
Natural-gas producers and Gov. Bill Ritter’s chief adviser on climate change are set to discuss the role of the gas industry at the Rocky Mountain Natural Gas Strategy Conference & Investment Forum.
Industry officials say using natural gas to generate electricity will help reduce carbon-dioxide emissions – a leading contributor to global warming – compared to burning coal for power.
“We recognize that climate change is so important, and natural gas is so important,” said Fred Julander, a conference organizer and Denver-based oil and natural-gas producer. “In order to solve climate change, we’re going to need a lot of natural gas for power generation.”
The gas industry’s position is not supported by some environmentalists and renewable-energy activists who maintain that all fossil-fueled power generation – natural gas, coal and oil – should be reduced or eliminated in favor of renewables such as wind and solar power, and increased energy conservation.
As fossil fuels are burned to create electricity, the carbon that is stored in them is released into the air as carbon dioxide. Coal has the highest amount of carbon per unit of energy produced; oil has about 25 percent less and natural gas about 45 percent less.
Carbon emissions are widely believed to contribute to global warming. Debate still exists on whether the warming effect is caused by naturally occurring carbon dioxide and weather patterns or from man-made sources such as power generation and transportation fuels.
The conference, sponsored by the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, kicks off Aug. 13 at the Colorado Convention Center with a panel discussion moderated by Heidi VanGenderen. Ritter named her in April as his climate-change adviser. She previously served as a senior associate with the Wirth Chair in Environmental and Community Development Policy at the University of Colorado.
“It’s terrific that COGA recognizes the importance of addressing climate change, and I, for one, look forward to listening and learning from those presenting at the conference,” VanGenderen said.
The conference is expected to attract 1,500 to 1,800 registrants, including executives from the nation’s top energy companies.
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Staff writer Steve Raabe can be reached at 303-954-1948 or sraabe@denverpost.com.
