Governor John Hickenlooper
136 State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203-1792
February 19, 2013
Dear Governor Hickenlooper:
Thank you for rising above the partisan squabbling that has unfortunately heightened a national oil and gas debate. Scientific evidence is being overpowered by an emotional public debate and your leadership will help us overcome this unjust polarization.
We appreciate that you are using your influence as Governor to seek a sensible energy balance – one that ensures rigorous regulation and enforcement, but in a way that is applied consistently and efficiently so that Colorado remains an attractive place to do business. Real political leadership is a rarity in the current environment. On energy issues, you have shown it, and you can be assured that a great majority of citizens, and many local elected officials, appreciate that leadership.
Those who have expressed criticism to your decision to take legal action against Longmont’s overreaching and illegal oil and gas rules do not speak for all local governments, or the thousands of people who support the energy industry statewide. The energy industry is vital to our economic stability and in reality; the majority of citizens and local governments support the industry.
The proposed Longmont regulations will create a de facto ban on oil and gas production in large segments of their community. If left unchallenged, those regulations open the flood gates for other additional regulatory responses. The resulting chaos would create unclear expectations for local governments, and would discourage future investment in energy development in Colorado.
As you well know, Colorado doesn’t take lightly its responsibility to manage, regulate and oversee oil and gas development. Our state has the most stringent, comprehensive oil and gas regulations anywhere in the country. Love them or hate them, these rules are widely acknowledged to be the most aggressive regulatory framework in the nation. Additional regulations are simply unnecessary.
Your position is backed by common sense. Colorado cannot have a quilt of hundreds of different sets of oil and gas regulations if the state is genuinely committed to a thriving oil and gas sector.
As local elected officials who actually represent an energy producing area, we share your view of the importance of the energy sector, and we applaud your authentic bipartisan leadership on oil and gas issues.
Sincerely,
Commissioner W.R. “Skip” Fischer, Adams County
Commissioner Alice Nichol, Adams County
Commissioner Erik Hansen, Adams County
Commissioner Rod Bockenfeld, Arapahoe County
Commissioner Nancy Doty, Arapahoe County
Mayor Dick McLean, City of Brighton
Councilmember Wayne Scott, City of Brighton
Councilmember Chris Maslanik, City of Brighton
Councilmember Kirby Wallin, City of Brighton
Councilmember Cynthia Martinez, City of Brighton
Councilmember Rex Bell, City of Brighton
Councilmember Lynn Baca, City of Brighton
Councilmember J.W. Edwards, City of Brighton
Councilmember Wilma Rose, City of Brighton
Councilmember Ken Lucas, City of Centennial
Mayor Terry Carwile, City of Craig
Councilmember Don Jones, City of Craig
Councilmember Gene Bilodeau, City of Craig
Councilmember Joe Bird, City of Craig
Councilmember Jennifer Rily, City of Craig
Councilmember Ray Black, City of Craig
Councilmember Byron Willems, City of Craig
Councilmember Benedict Lujan Sr., Town of Dinosaur
Councilmember Lando Blakely, Town of Dinosaur
Councilmember Toby Cortez, Town of Dinosaur
Councilmember Guy Stults, Town of Dinosaur
Councilmember Devonna Wilzek, Town of Dinosaur
Councilmember Richard Blakely, Town of Dinosaur
Councilmember Bruce Long, Town of Dinosaur
Mayor Chad Auer, Town of Firestone
Councilmember Sam Susuras, City of Grand Junction
Commissioner Don Rosier, Jefferson County
Commissioner Faye Griffin, Jefferson County
Commissioner Steve Johnson, Larimer County
Councilmember John Fogle, City of Loveland
Councilmember Hugh McKean, City of Loveland
Commissioner John Justman, Mesa County
Commissioner Rose Pugliese, Mesa County
Commissioner Tom Mathers, Moffat County
Commissioner Tom Gray, Moffat County
Commissioner Audrey Danner, Moffat County
Mayor Judith Beasley, Town of Parachute
Trustee Junita Williams, Town of Parachute
Trustee Mary Allbee, Town of Parachute
Trustee Roy McClung, Town of Parachute
Trustee Tom Rugaard, Town of Parachute
Mayor Frank Huitt, Town of Rangely
Councilmember Brad Casto, Town of Rangely
Councilmember Elaine Urie, Town of Rangely
Councilmember Clayton Gohr, Town of Rangely
Councilmember Lisa Hatch, Town of Rangely
Councilmember Dan Eddy, Town of Rangely
Councilmember Joseph Nielsen, Town of Rangely
Commissioner Shawn Bolton, Rio Blanco County
Commissioner Kai Turner, Rio Blanco County
Commissioner Kenneth Parsons, Rio Blanco County
Commissioner Sean Conway, Weld County
Commissioner Barb Kirkmeyer, Weld County
Commissioner Douglas Rademacher, Weld County
Commissioner Mike Freeman, Weld County
Mayor Joe Foltmer, City of Wray
Councilmember Ronn Akey, City of Wray
Councilmember Butch Hassman, City of Wray
Councilmember Jodi Brady, City of Wray
Commissioner Trent Bushner, Yuma County
Commissioner Dean Wingfield, Yuma County
Commissioner Robin Wiley, Yuma County
Source: Letter to John Hickenlooper