Salazar’s “balanced energy plan” doesn’t play well with oil and gas industry

Colorado Senator Ken Salazar spoke on Friday to an energy forum of the Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States.  He called for a “balanced national energy policy” and dismissed claims he is against drilling and exploration in the United States.  He told his critics to just turn it “down a couple decibels.”

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0FcNNeuf0E

He pointed to the fact that when he became Colorado’s natural resources director in 1990, there were 11,000 energy jobs in the state.  He claims we have been successful in building the energy industry in Colorado because now there are 36,000 such jobs.

The response from oil and gas companies:  “I think the industry feels he could be more helpful,” said Doug Hock, spokesman for EnCana Oil & Gas (USA).

But here are the facts:

1. Ken Salazar with Congressman Mark Udall and Governor Bill Ritter worked to block leasing for natural gas exploration on the Roan Plateau.
2. Ken Salazar has been persistently working to block development of Colorado’s vast oil shale reserves. He sponsored a bill that attempted to block the release of final regulations on oil shale development. There are an estimated 800 billion barrels of oil locked in the ground here in Colorado.
3. In July, Salazar wrote a Washington Post editorial called The Heedless Rush to Oil Shale in which he argued that we should put off oil shale development because the energy companies developing methods to extract this oil are “still years away from knowing whether this technology can cost-effectively produce oil on a commercial scale.” What he didn’t note is that the reason they are so far away is because Senator Salazar, Congressman Mark Udall and others have been blocking regulations which would free up oil companies to do more research.

It is disingenuous for Senator Salazar to claim his is for drilling when he is against it. The You Tube video below makes it very clear that his true agenda is to block all energy development under any circumstances.

Hot Air Tour arrives in Colorado

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 18, 2008

Group Launches Statewide Hot Air Balloon Tour to Rally Citizens for Domestic Oil Production, Energy Independence

Americans for Prosperity Balloon has a Message for Udall:  “Energy Taxes Hurt Families, Kill Jobs”

COLORADO – The free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) will bring its hot air balloon to Colorado beginning on August 20 for a four-day, seven-stop statewide tour aimed at rallying hundreds of citizens around market-based solutions to energy challenges. The group’s balloon, which has already made 20 stops around the country, will highlight the need for policies that would lower gas and energy prices by increasing American supplies and making domestic production less expensive. Even as energy costs remain at record-high levels, AFP says many lawmakers continue to oppose commonsense solutions at the urging of global warming extremists like Al Gore.

The Tour will kick off on Wednesday, August 20, in Broomfield, before making stops in Fort Collins, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, and Denver. All events are open to the public, but citizens are encouraged to pre-register online. For more info, including a full schedule, visit www.CostofHotAir.org.

“Instead of focusing on positive, free-market solutions to energy challenges, Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic majority are pushing for the proven-failed tax and regulatory policies of the past,” said AFP Colorado Director Jim Pfaff. “And they are cheered on by global warming alarmists like Al Gore who want energy to be much more expensive so American use less. Our hot air balloon is going to educate citizens on the hot air in the energy and global warming debates. We invite anyone who is concerned about high gas prices to join us for these events by registering online at www.CostofHotAir.com.”

The Hot Air Tour is part of AFP’s overall nationwide effort to promote free-market policies that will reduce energy costs, and oppose proposals by global warming alarmists that would lead to huge energy price spikes. AFP is also airing statewide radio ads in Colorado. The group supports expanding oil exploration and production to the Arctic coastal plain and the Outer Continental Shelf, as well as tapping into the potential of shale oil in places like Colorado.

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