Thinking long-term about energy and the environment

Re: “Environmental protections don’t kill business, but shortsightedness might,” June 30 commentary

In his article, Dan Grossman presented a false dichotomy. Coloradans do not have to choose between energy and the environment. Colorado is a shining example of this. Our state has some of the most robust and comprehensive regulations in the nation, and the natural gas and oil industry is continually innovating and investing in technology to reduce our footprint. In the past ten years, nationally, we’ve quadrupled our oil production while simultaneously bringing carbon emissions from power generation down to their lowest levels in 25 years.

Colorado already has smart policies and regulations in place that keep people and communities safe and allow the growing natural gas and oil industry to boost the economy through jobs, capital expenditures, taxes, and fees. Our state rules surrounding hydraulic fracking and air quality are already among the strongest and most comprehensive in the country. Adding on more regulation doesn’t necessarily equal a better regulatory system.

If the red tape piles up, at some point it will no longer be economical for natural gas and oil companies to do business here in Colorado. My hope is that instead we can come together and focus on creating and sustaining effective energy regulation in a way that both strengthens safe and responsible natural gas and oil production and enables the industry — which makes up almost 10 percent of Colorado’s GSP — to continue doing business here in Colorado. Tracee Bentley, executive director, Colorado Petroleum Council