BLM gambling all on Roan
By Wally EdgeWith news that the Colorado Environmental Coalition lead by Elise Jones will sue the US Bureau of Land Management to stop drilling for gas atop the Roan Plateau the Democrats are facing a thorny election year issue.
Governor Bill Ritter was hoping that the compromise solution of partly opening the Roan to drilling which he proposed in December would stick.
In part we think he was influenced because oil prices were approaching $100 per barrel in December of last year.
With oil prices now near $135 per barrel, it'll be a risk for Democrats to weigh in on the subject one way or another.
If they support restrictions on drilling they lose the majority of Coloradoans who see drilling as a way to bring down energy prices. If they support drilling they lose an important part of their base who wishes to conserve the environment unique to the Roan.
Although Democrats succeeded in cutting the baby in half with Ritter's December proposal they probably won't be able to do so again by appealing to compromise.
Certainly the March decision to reject the Governor's compromise and open all 55,186 acres of the Roan to drilling was a decision by BLM that was primarily driven by politics.
And it looks like the BLM is gambling on an all-or-nothing approach.
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energy prices
Drilling more natural gas will lower overall energy prices. It will make CNG vehicles more attractive, for example, which emit fewer emissions. It could give a real boost to mass transit. It will also lower the price of electrcity. Studies have shown that there is not a huge effect on oil prices from an increase natural gas supply' but there is some resulting small downward pressure in prices on crude. But those studies never contemplated the type of crude oil inflation we have with prices at over 130. One needs to look at our energy needs in whole, instead of the short sided ''it will never work'' argument you make.
Right...
So drilling for natural gas will lower gasoline prices? Right...
Coloradoil
Crude oil prices and natural gas prices move in tandem, especially upwards.
That said natural gas as a form of energy is still about half the price per MMBtu as opposed to oil.
As oil prices go up natural gas becomes more attractive as as a form of energy. That's why drilling in the Roan would appear to some to be more attractive now.
Protect the Roan
For someone that proclaims to know what Coloradoans (sic) want, you apparently don't know much about us. First of all, we call ourselves Coloradans--like San Franciscans since both words are of Spanish origin.
Second, over 95% of Coloradans who responded to the BLM's comment period OPPOSED the BLM's plan for leasing the Roan. Just because you may have some slant in favor of drilling doesn't mean actual Coloradans feel the same way.
Third, the Roan Plateau has natural gas...not oil. Nobody in their right mind thinks that drilling for more natural gas will reduce the cost of gasoline.
I understand this is an "opinion" piece, but when you are referring to facts in an opinion piece, it is generally considered prudent to not make them up.
Sincerely,
A native Coloradan opposed to drilling for natural gas on the Roan.
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