Colorado has always been a state that thrives off of its natural resources. Gold brought prospectors, the land produces bountiful harvests, and rivers and lakes provide water to our arid climate.
Unfortunately, Colorado is investing in resources that are detrimental to the economic and environmental health of the state at the expense of resources that have the potential to boost Colorado’s economy and ensure energy security.
Oil and gas exploration has expanded rapidly over the past few years and threatens to refocus Colorado on outdated goals rather than new ideas. The controversial extraction method of fracking has become a cost-effective way of extracting deeply buried resources, and when coupled with a rise in energy demand and prices, has resuscitated the Colorado oil and gas industry.
As oil and gas exploitation encroach upon suburban and urban areas, residents are bearing the brunt of the industry’s unpleasant side-effects. Foul odors and booming noises accompany oil and gas exploitation, collection trucks and continual exploration deprive residents of serenity and privacy.
Many citizens and local governments welcome the exploitation of fossil fuels, believing that it will bring jobs and tax revenue to the area. This is a tragically short-sighted investment that is robbing Colorado of its unique opportunity to become a model of economic growth and energy sustainability by investing in new energy sources.
Energy security is a crucial issue that only receives attention when gasoline prices skyrocket. Politicians promise to lower gas prices by increasing supply, something that is no longer possible. Instead, Colorado should focus on investing in renewable energy that will permanently decrease reliance on fossil fuels and provide jobs to many types of Colorado workers. This would not only help reduce CO2 emissions and be beneficial to the environment, investing in renewable energy also would revitalize American manufacturing and bring high-paying jobs in construction, manufacturing and engineering to Colorado. Unlike jobs based in fossil fuels, these jobs would not be threatened by a well running dry.
As long as Colorado has steady winds and 300 days of sunshine per year, demand for renewable energy production, design and maintenance will exist. Colorado has already shown initiative and promise in renewable energy development. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory draws research scientists and engineers to Golden to experiment with new technologies. Colorado was among the first states to have voter-mandated renewable energy standards, and the legislature has increased the standards twice since then.
However, Colorado needs to continue to provide incentives for new energy sources while dissuading utility companies and individuals from using old, dirty methods. This process is complicated and threatened by the actions of politicians who are deeply tied to the oil and gas industry. Rep. Doug Lamborn’s call for the defunding of renewable energy programs (including NREL) illustrates the reluctance of many politicians to embrace the future of energy production.
By sending the message that America can focus on drilling to ease the energy crisis, Lamborn and others in Congress are willfully ignoring the problem and stifling growth in an industry that provides good jobs and protects the environment.
Colorado should exploit the opportunities created by high energy prices and invest heavily in renewable sources. Being proactive about high energy costs will help protect Colorado from price volatility, and will establish Colorado as a research and production center for renewable sources when other parts of the country finally decide to implement new energy sources for their energy production.
Matthew McGovern is a recent graduate of the University of Northern Colorado and lives in Centennial.
