The two Grand Junction Republicans hoping to replace Gov. Bill Ritter said a federal oil shale decision supported by Ritter offers little hope to the Western Slope economy.
Ritter, a Democrat seeking his second term next November, said he supported a second round of oil shale research leases, plus a sharp reduction in the size of commercial leases, should any ever be granted.
“We were hoping that Gov. Ritter might step out of (President) Obama’s shadow and stick up for Colorado, but apparently not,” Scott McInnis’ campaign spokesman Sean Duffy said.
“Whatever the details,” state Sen. Josh Penry said, “I can’t think that (Interior Secretary) Ken Salazar and Barack Obama are going to let a commercial operation go forward.”
Penry, who has advocated a go-slow effort on oil shale in the past, said questions about the use of water remain, and there should be a “legitimate, science-based effort to see if the water question can be answered.”
The approach advocated by Salazar and Ritter is “an extension of the imbalanced attack on family-sustaining jobs in the natural gas industry,” Duffy said.
In his statement, Ritter said the economic potential for oil shale in Colorado is huge.
“But the prospect of commercial-scale activities raises significant questions about how oil shale can be successfully integrated into our state’s economy and how we can protect the state’s environment, water and communities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the two congressmen whose districts include the nation’s richest deposits of oil shale are split on the Obama administration’s plans for those lands.
U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., whose 3rd Congressional District includes the richest of the shales, said he supports the second round of leases proposed Tuesday by his brother, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, whose Utah district includes that state’s shale, said the decision was disappointing because it prohibited commercial development.
John Salazar supports a second round of research leasing because it “can help us answer fundamental questions about water and power needs related to oil shale,” his Washington, D.C., office said.
Those concerns were mirrored by Ken Salazar when he announced the second round on Tuesday. He also announced he was asking the inspector general to look into the way the department handled the leases during the closing days of the Bush administration.
In Utah, Matheson said several companies are working with promising technology that could unlock oil shale’s commercial potential in an environmentally responsible way.
“Without a level playing field at the federal level, their efforts are stalled,” Matheson said.
Matheson suggested states should be allowed to opt in to the federal government’s leasing program.
“New methodology is on the horizon in Utah. It should be allowed to compete for commercial development. (Tuesday’s) decision by Interior is unfair economic policy and unwise energy policy,” Matheson said.
Colorado, Utah and Wyoming have the nation’s most significant oil shale deposits. Several companies in Colorado, notably Shell Oil, are experimenting with ways to heat shale in place to release kerogen, which then can be refined into gasoline and other consumer products.
Email GARY HARMON
Comments
By Jimo
Oct 22, 2009 8:27 PM | Link to this
OK, uh, American (Gary Harmon)- it's YOUR country, fer sure. No one else's. Please enjoy another cocktail or bong hit, and talk to me in the morning. No driving or gun-cleaning for you tonight.
And, I'll be sure to git in line for the big hand-out. I'm sure there will be plenty $$ left over after the defense contractors, oil companies, Wall-Streeters, big ag companies, crappy car makers, and medical insurers get their fair share.
Whew, thank jeezus for big government!
By American
Oct 22, 2009 7:59 PM | Link to this
Finally some people that are smart. Republicans did not ruin America point blank. There were mistakes made BY BOTH PARTIES. But heck Obamasama hasn't been a P for even a year and he is already trying and possibly succeeding at turning our country into a socialistic country, oh and for you Left wing schmucks.. There is just a P simply because Obamasama is not a real president, he just plays one on tv. Hey left wingers while I am at it.. How do you expect to get any kind of a hand out (not hand up as it was supposed to be) if there isn't money going around to be given
I stand for making money, distributing money, and supporting MY country not another.
If you have a problem with people making a living, regardless of what industry it is, then move to the Middle East. Maybe they can take better care of you and rumor has it they cut out tongues of whiners.
Salazar needs to get his head out of Obamasamas bum before he gets stuck!
Oh and for the person who said we didn't fund terrorism. Try google or history class.
By Jimo
Oct 22, 2009 7:52 PM | Link to this
Great point AmericanWoman - and, to add, Osama Bin Laden was born & raised in Saudi Arabia by a very wealthy family that ran a large construction business. Our pals - Saudi Arabia. So, using Bush logic - let's invade & occupy Iraq.
By By an American woman
Oct 22, 2009 7:08 PM | Link to this
I just thought that republican deciet should know that 9 out of the 11 terroist from 911 were from Saudi Arabia. That is where most of them are recuited and are funded from.
By Ghost of Kathy Hall
Oct 22, 2009 5:55 PM | Link to this
What's all the fuss about oil shale?
IıVE HAD IT IN MY MOUTH. IıVE TASTED IT, and I'M JUST FINE.
By Jimo
Oct 22, 2009 5:36 PM | Link to this
If left in the hands of republicans like Boy Josh or Short Scott, there ain't gunna be no "family-sustaining jobs in the natural gas industry" nor ANY industry without clean and abundant water. Surface water. Ground water. Water for agriculture. Water for drinking. Water for wildlife.
Oil from shale is fool's gold, plain and simple. Take a good look on GoogleEarth at Fort McMurray, Alberta and their tar sands nightmare. What sort of society willingly posions their air and water in order to keep their cars on the road? Why, it's the American Dream!
And, don't forget about Colorado's golden girl Gail Norton - now under federal investigation for handing her new employer (Shell) prime oil-shale leases and 5% royalty rates....
REPUBLICANS - THE PARTY THAT WRECKED AMERICA!
By OTrash
Oct 22, 2009 1:09 PM | Link to this
Early morning entertainment from Obama/Ritter loving goobers. I'd say an early laugh is good but in actuality it makes me sick to my stomach. It will be interesting and probably more frightening than anything to see the destruction that these democrats will have achieved by the time any Republican can get into office to stop it. From oilshale, health care, homeland security, taxes, gun rights and the list goes on and on!!
Bottom line: Penry or McInnis are our only hope for this state!
By Widget
Oct 22, 2009 12:49 PM | Link to this
But Obama supports drilling, in Brazil, where his good Buddy Soros is scheduled to make a mint...but wait, it isn't Haliburton, isn't a friend of Republicans, and the MSM won't report it....LOL. Hypocrites.
By Republican Deceit
Oct 22, 2009 10:52 AM | Link to this
How goofy can these Colorado destroyers get. Get a clue. The terrorists who made the 9-11 attacks were not funded by oil producing countries. Unless you believe we get oil from Afghanistan and Pakistan, in which case you are dumber than your comments suggest you are. All those oil deals Republicans like Bush made with his family friends, the Saudis, or like Bob Schaffer making secret deals with northern Iraqis, had nothing to do with 9-11. Right? These anti-American politicians like McInnis and Penry have no plan. Only whine.
By American
Oct 22, 2009 10:21 AM | Link to this
Hey Un-American.. Did you not read it all. I would rather take a chance and die in my country to make my country more wealthy than to FUND TERRORIST! Come on get a clue. Did the people of 911 die in vain because of Morons? I would say so. Get on America's band wagon.. DOH'
Besides. I live next to oil rigs. Have for years, yet I breathe GREAT.. It's a natural resource made on OUR soil. Have you no love for the US?
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