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Changes to oil and gas regulations affect more than just the energy industry. Realtors, general contractors, bankers, retailers and non-profits all have a stake in the outcome of the final rules regulating oil and gas.
While the rest of the state and country are feeling the effects of an economic slow-down, western Colorado is booming. This well-to-do economy, Vectra Bank economist Jeff Thredgold said in a recent Business Times article, is thriving because of energy. According to the Colorado Department of Labor, the average wage in Mesa County was $454 per week in 1997. Today’s wages average $651 per week. This unprecedented climb in local wages has added to the quality of life for our hard-working Western Slope families.
The energy industry does so much to light up our economy and I hope the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission keeps this in mind when determining whether the commission should hold another round of hearings and public input meetings in Rifle and Grand Junction.
I know the people on this side of the mountain — we, the industry workers, the realtors, the contractors, the bankers, the retailers and the many other concerned citizens — have something to say about how oil and gas should be governed. And I know the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission will do the right thing and schedule another round of meetings, with plenty of advance notice, on the Western Slope.
ROB COSE
Grand Junction
3 Responses to “Oil and Gas Conservation Commission should hold another round of hearings”
Posted March 5th, 2008 at 7:03 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Yes your right Rob from your “we” point of view. But what the new COGCC intent is to represent the “us” from the stand point of using critical thinking rather than single mindedness.
I am not wanting to insult, but to ask everyone to take a long hard look at this using critical thinking. Let’s start with the facts that there isn’t a shortage of natural gas. The rest of the country is suffering economically. So if demand is what inflences prices and the President said today that we have to do something to change our driving habits - what if the speed limit were to be reduced to 55 mph again saving 20% of our consumption, what effect would this have on “commodity pricing” in your industry? What effect would that have on “our” economy? Does Black Sunday ring a bell?
Then consider for a moment that there isn’t monitoring of our air quality for the harmful components that are trapped under the inversions we experience. Why not have protection that the COGCC consider? Why should we live with those dangers to the health of “our” children or ourselves?
If your concerned as you say for wages, why not take the money from our resourses for “us” that other states get?
I’m afraid that “we” are more interested in preservation of a way of life without the consideration of the “us” absent critiacl thinking. If that’s the case Black Sunday was just an inconvience and we’re heading for major wreck.
In closing let me suggest that history has everything to teach us, look at the different energy booms of the past and how we are still cleaning up mill tailings and reclaiming oil shale sites. If it wasn’t for this boom the Cisco Dome would still be unremediated from previous activity. I’m not against development of our resources, not at all. My question to you is, why not develop our resources responsibily?
Posted March 12th, 2008 at 5:03 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Great comments, Paul.
It is amazing to see the way numbers can be twisted to make them say what you want. The “average wage” increase can be attributed to some pretty fat paychecks in the energy sector. The wages of the average coffee shop clerk or service industry worker has increased only slightly (if at all), while the cost of housing has skyrocketed, thanks to the “gas boom”.
It is easy for energy workers with their fat paychecks to tell the rest of us how good we have it. But for thousands of folks who are not receiving those big bucks, the obscene profits the companies you work for are bleeding us dry. And you expect us to be grateful? Not so much.
Posted July 1st, 2008 at 9:47 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
JCPENNEY VS MACY…
JCPENNEY VS MACY…
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