IPAMS Meetings and Announcements
IPAMS Hosts over 300 for 2008 Annual Meeting and Summer Conference in Vail
Last week IPAMS hosted another successful Annual Meeting and Summer Conference in beautiful Vail, CO. Thank you to all of our speakers, attendees, and sponsors for making this year’s conference one of the best ever.
Sustaining Sponsors:
Devon
Encana
Questar
Titanium Sponsor:
Halliburton
Gold Sponsor:
Schlumberger
Silver Sponsors:
Berry Petroleum Company
Bill Barrett Corporation
Cameron
Delta Petroleum Corporation
Halliburton
Newfield Exploration Company
Noble Energy Inc.
Pioneer Natural Resources
Pure Energy Services
Saga Petroleum
SemCrude, LP
Ultra Petroleum, Inc.
Williams
XTO Energy Inc.
COPPER SPONSORS:
Amegy/Vectra Bank
Anadarko Petroleum
Shell
U.S. Bank
Venture Transport Logistics
Bronze Sponsors:
Buys & Associates
EOG
J-W Operating Company
Rimrock Energy LLC
Samson Oil and Gas USA
Samson Resources
Sanjel (USA) Inc.
ST Oil Co./Trinity
St. Mary Land & Exploration
Stewart Petroleum Co.
Tall Grass Energy Company
Texas American Resources Co.
Tracker Resource Development
Whiting Petroleum
Banko Petroleum Management
M.J. England & Associates
IPAMS 2008 Annual Meeting and Summer Conference Presentations Available Online
Many of our members have requested copies of our speakers’ presentations from last week’s Annual Meeting and Summer Conference. The presentations can be found on the IPAMS website here: Please contact Jon Bargas (jbargas@ipams.org) for more information.
IPAMS Welcomes Its Newest Members:
Anderson Management Company
A-Plus Well Service, Inc.
Asher Resources
Breitenbach Petroleum Corporation
CIMA Energy
Cordilleran Compliance ServicesCTEK/MotherLode
DrillinginfoEagle Exploration
ForeRunner Corporation
Harrell Oil Company LLC
James C Karo Associates
JOG Capita
Knapp Oil Corporation
NVI-Nondestructive & Visual Inspection
Permits West, Inc.
Policy Communications
Royalty Investment Ltd, Inc.
Southwestern Production Corp.
TEC Inc.
T-Rex
Tudor Pickering Holt & Co.
Unconventional Resources LLC
Weaver Boos Consultants, LLC
Zenith Petroleum Corporporation
IPAMS and Bonfils Blood Center Is Requesting Your Support
Bonfils Blood Center has sent out a plea for more than 4,000 volunteers in metro-Denver to donate blood each week leading up to the 2008 Democratic National Convention; to meet the needs of Coloradans as well as the tens of thousands of visitors that will travel to our city. A tentative date for an IPAMS members blood drive is scheduled for the week of July 21 and will be located in downtown Denver.
Please show your interest in attending this much needed blood drive by visiting ipams.org and clicking on the Bonfils Blood Center logo that scrolls at the bottom of the homepage. Please note that by signing up you are not obligated to donate. By signing up you are requesting specifics about the blood drive when it becomes available. Please sign up today as Bonfils Blood Center is requesting a total number of potential donors.
To learn more please contact Ronnie Causey at 303.623.0987 or at rcausey@ipams.org.
Thank you for your consideration and we hope to see you the week of July 21.
Click here to express your interest in participating in the blood drive: www.ipams.org
Are All of Your Coworkers Receiving Wildcatter Weekly?
As an IPAMS member, all of your fellow employees are entitled to the benefits that IPAMS membership offers. Employees who are not receiving communications from IPAMS, including Wildcatter Weekly, can sign up here (www.ipams.org/register).
Please forward this link to all of your company employees and assist us in keeping our members informed on the lasted industry news and events.
Abstract Deadline Extended for the 2008 IPAMS Rocky Mountain Energy Technology Conference
The deadline to submit abstracts for the 2008 Rocky Mountain Energy Conference, hosted by IPAMS, has been extended.
If your company is interested in presenting at the conference, scheduled for September 4 and 5 in Denver, please submit an abstract of 250 words or less detailing new technologies that are available and needed to meet growing environmental expectations.
IPAMS RMETC will highlight the critical technologies in a changing regulatory landscape. Presenters should demonstrate a clear nexus between new regulatory mandates and the technologies and practices that will allow companies to continue to efficiently and economically produce oil and natural gas in the region. Topics that may be covered include:
- Minimizing Operational Impacts
- Protecting Ground Water
- Managing Produced Water
- Reducing Air Emissions
- Improving Reclamation
- Protecting Wildlife
- Enhancing Safety
- Maintaining Compliance and Reporting
Kindly send abstracts to Becca Ness and write “Technology Conference Abstract” in the subject line of the email. Please include your complete contact information and indicate which topical areas you will cover during your presentation.
IPAMS Bicycle Club
The IPAMS Bicycle Club will be participating in the Tour de Steamboat on July 26. Tour de Steamboat has several riding options including a 20 mile, 40 mile, and 110 mile loop. We hope the shorter mileage options will encourage more members and their families to participate. The deadline for registration is July 24th and the cost is $75.00 per person which includes a BBQ at the end of the race. If you are interested in riding with us contact Becca Ness. We ask that each rider sign up please on individually.
IPAMS Photo Contest
IPAMS is holding a seasonal photo contest!
IPAMS will ask members for seasonally-themed photographs during the winter, spring, summer and autumn of 2008.
We are looking for scenic photos featuring wildlife, oil and gas operations, or any picturesque scenes from around the West. Winners will receive a prize and will have their photo appear in IPAMS 2009 Calendar. Please submit all photos to Spencer Kimball.
Send in your spring themed photos today!
Other Upcoming Meetings
API/INGAA Workshops on Spark Ignition Engine
On December 20, 2007, as mandated by Consent Decree, the U.S. EPA signed a rule to reduce emissions of criteria and air toxic pollutants from stationary internal combustion engines. These engines are used extensively in the upstream segment of the oil and gas industry for compression, power generation and utility purposes. They are also used at gas transmission compressor stations, and facilities such as power plants, refineries and chemical and manufacturing plants to generate electricity and run power pumps and compressors.
EPA published the final rule on January 18, 2008, and the new rule affects engines currently being placed into service. Applicability dates depend upon the manufacture date, engine size, and type of service.
June 3-4, 2008, Dallas, Texas
July 9-10, 2008, Denver, Colorado
July 22-23, 2008, Houston, Texas
For more information and to register, please click here.
20th Annual Rocky Mountain Natural Gas Strategy Conference and Investment Forum
July 9-11, 2008
Colorado Convention Center
Denver, CO
The Colorado Oil & Gas Association and the Rocky Mountain Section of AAPG join together to present the Rocky Mountain Energy Epicenter. This energy summit encompasses three annual conferences: (1) The Rocky Mountain Natural Gas Strategy, (2) The Rocky Mountain Investment Forum, and (3) The Rocky Mountain Geology & Energy Resources Conference.
With one registration, attendees may attend all three conferences that take place simultaneously at the Colorado Convention Center. For more information about the conference, including sponsorship, exhibitors, floor plans, travel information, schedules, and more, please click here.
GPA Call For Papers
The Gas Processors Association (GPA) invites you to share your expertise with more than 1,500 industry peers at the 2009 GPA Convention, the premier midstream industry event bringing professionals together each year to meet, share and learn. The 88th annual GPA Convention will be held in San Antonio, Texas, March 8-11, 2009.
SUBMITTING AN ABSTRACT
All authors who send a 200-250 word abstract to GPA by Sept. 1, 2008, will be considered as a potential presenter at next year’s Convention. Abstracts submitted early will be given priority consideration. Presentations will cover topics in gas processing, gas gathering, fractionation, storage and transportation. For those with pertinent papers not matching the descriptions below, we encourage you to go ahead and send in your abstract by the deadline for consideration.
REQUESTED TOPICS
- International developments
- Legislative and regulatory impacts
- Safety
- Product quality and specifications
- Operational and maintenance issues
- Business issues
- Technical developments
- Marketing and downstream issues
- Applications of thermodynamics and phase equilibria
- Shared practices
- LNG
- Computer technology
Click here to submit an abstract.
Visit ipams.org for the latest news affecting the Intermountain West’s oil and natural gas industry. Headlines are updated daily from local, national and international news sources.
Federal Regulatory Issues
2008-2009 DOT Hazmat Registration Due by June 30, 2008
Every company that transports any shipment of hazardous materials (hazmat) requiring placarding must file an annual DOT Hazmat Registration form. IPAMS recommends that members send in their DOT registration forms as soon as possible to avoid delays in processing.
For registration year 2008-2009, the registration fees are $275 for small businesses and non-profit organizations and $1000 for all other businesses. Both fees include a $25 processing fee. The amount of the fee is based upon the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code that describes the company’s primary commercial activity.
The registration forms and instructions are available on the DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) website at http://hazmat.dot.gov/. You may also register online. For more information, please contact Melissa Young.
New Publication from DOT - Available Online
The DOT’s Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance Office has released an on-line publication “What Employers Need to Know about DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing”. The publication offers some best practices and clearer instructions for conducting a program. To download a version of the documents click here.
Programmatic Biological Assessment for BLM’s Fluid Minerals Program in Western Colorado re: Water Depletions and effects on the Four Endangered Big River Fishes
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has determined that any water depletions that occur in the Upper Colorado River Basin negatively affect the four endangered “Big River” fish (Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, humpback chub, and bonytail chub) and their critical habitat. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has completed a draft Programmatic Biological Assessment (PBA) that looks at water depletions resulting from fluid minerals development on BLM lands in western Colorado over the next 15 years.
The BLM focused upon the use of water for drilling wells (drilling fluids, fracing, and completion activities), dust suppression, and hydrostatic testing. The PBA estimates the number of gas wells and coal bed methane wells that will be drilled on BLM lands in western Colorado over the next 15 years. Based on the estimated amount of water that will be used (depleted) by each well drilled, the PBA estimates that fluid minerals activities on BLM lands will deplete 4,046 acre-feet of water each year for the next 15 years.
Based on the current FWS formula/fee rate of $17.79 per acre foot, the depletion fee for fluid minerals activities on BLM lands in Colorado is $71,978.34 (4,046 AF x $17.79/AF). The BLM is soliciting a one-time payment of $71,978.34 from IPAMS.
The West
Colorado
In line for big drilling payday, Colorado may protest instead
June 16, 2008
Colorado’s cut of the money from oil and gas operations on the natural gas-rich Roan Plateau is expected to be hundreds of millions of dollars in the next several years — if drilling ever gets started. “To lease the Roan would be a windfall for the state of Colorado,” said Marc Smith, executive director of the Independent Petroleum Association of the Mountain States. “It’s an estimated $1 billion in expected future revenue that will help meet the state’s critical budgetary needs for health care, transportation and education, and with the strict stipulations to protect wildlife and other natural resources, this lease sale shows that Colorado could be a leader in responsible energy development.” (Denver Business Journal)
Roan leasing prompts lawsuit
June 17, 2008
A coalition of environmentalists announced Monday that it plans to sue the Bureau of Land Management to stop it from leasing about 55,000 acres of the Roan Plateau. Jon Bargas, manager of communications for the Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States, said the BLM’s plan to develop natural gas on the Roan Plateau is the most environmentally restrictive plan the industry has ever seen. He said, “Further attempts to delay the leasing of these lands will deny Americans’ access to energy we need every day. “Those of us who work in the industry understand that the ‘phased leasing’ that some are proposing for this area simply will not work and will actually result in more disturbance to the environment and less revenue for the state of Colorado.” (Post Independent)
Salazar blocking oil shale development, his GOP peers tell Fortune magazine
June 11, 2008
The man standing in the way of oil shale development is Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., according to two of his fellow senators. Salazar, said Sens. Wayne Allard and Orrin Hatch, Republicans of Colorado and Utah, respectively, has turned the regulation process on its head and stymied development. “When the oil companies go to bid on their leases, they need to have some idea what their royalties might be and what their remediation requirements might be,” Allard told Fortune magazine in an interview with Hatch. (Daily Sentinel)
Researcher: No health crisis in GarCo
June 17, 2008
A comprehensive review of medical data for Garfield County residents doesn’t show a health crisis, a researcher says. However, there are some trends that might be worth watching, possibly related to worsening air quality, and the energy industry should consider taking some steps to help protect public health, said Teresa Coons, senior scientist at the Saccomanno Research Institute in Grand Junction. The study was conducted in response to concerns about possible health effects related to natural gas development in the county. (Daily Sentinel)
Severance tax move draws GarCo’s scorn
June 16, 2008
Garfield County commissioners are opposing a state severance tax initiative that they say would be detrimental to energy-producing areas. Commissioners voted 2-1 Monday on a resolution against Initiative 113, which is proposed by Gov. Bill Ritter and the Nature Conservancy. It would increase state oil and gas severance taxes about $321 million through elimination of the tax credit companies receive for local property taxes paid on energy production. (Daily Sentinel)
Q&A on energy with the candidates
June 17, 2008
What follows are the complete answers provided by U.S. Senate candidates Bob Schaffer and Mark Udall to a a series of energy policy questions presented them by the Denver Post. (Denver Post)
Aspen operating plans to drill 174 wells near Grand Junction
June 13, 2008
The Bureau of Land Management seeks comments from the public for an environmental study on a Denver-metro company’s proposal to drill wells on 91,150 acres of the Grand Mesa Slopes. Aspen Operating, LLC, plans to drill 174 new natural gas wells from 24 well pads on federal lands within a 91,450-acre area near Whitewater, said Ben Miller, regulatory manager of the Aspen Operating. The environmental study will also consider impacts from an additional 40 wells to be drilled on private land by Aspen Drilling, an affiliated company to Aspen Operating. (Free Press)
Energy company can drill in New Castle wildlife area
June 15, 2008
Colorado Wildlife Commissioners have unanimously approved a agreement with Orion Energy Partners that will allow the company to begin drilling in Garfield Creek State Wildlife Area this summer. Commissioners approved the agreement because of the possibility that if they didn’t, Orion could simply ignore Colorado Division of Wildlife’s requests to lessen its impacts on the wildlife area. The agency also wanted Orion to pay the state a bond and begin drilling in the habitat within 30 days after getting its state permit. (Post Independent)
Drilling on Roan is certain, but payoff is not
June 16, 2007
In less than two months, the Bureau of Land Management will take a hammer to one of the richest energy piggy banks in the state. But exactly how much money will spill out of the Roan Plateau and wind up in state coffers - between when drilling leases are auctioned off Aug. 14 and when production finally comes to a close three decades later - is a matter of great debate. (Denver Post)
Retirees leaving Battlement Mesa as energy workers alter town
June 15, 2008
Like throngs of other retirees in the early 1990s, Shirley and Vernon Adams couldn’t ignore the glossy ads promoting Battlement Mesa as the nation’s premier retirement destination, a charming community in the mountain’s shadow nestled in the heart of the Western Slope. (Daily Sentinel)
Montana
Brown criticizes lease delays
June 12, 2008
Republican gubernatorial candidate Roy Brown criticized Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer Wednesday after the state land agency postponed selling some oil and gas leases along the Rocky Mountain Front. The state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation removed four tracts totaling more than 800 acres at the last minute Tuesday from a lease auction after the state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks objected, the Associated Press reported. (Billings Gazette)
NorthWestern planning to sell share of Colstrip 4 power
June 11, 2008
NorthWestern Energy announced Tuesday it plans to sell its share of Colstrip-produced power to an investment group for $400 million — or give Montana ratepayers a chance to pay a similar price. The announcement raised eyebrows at the state Public Service Commission, where utility regulators said they’ll take a hard look at how the offer could affect the company’s 300,000-plus electric ratepayers in Montana. (Helena Independent Record)
Utah
Utah wastewater pit could double in size
June 16, 2008
The owner/operator of a controversial wastewater disposal facility in Grand County, Utah, is looking to greatly expand the facility’s size. The evaporation ponds are operated by Grand Junction-based Danish Flats Environmental Services. The ponds are 2.5 miles north of Interstate 70, near the communities of Agate and Cisco, about 45 miles west of Grand Junction and about 20 miles northeast of Arches National Park. (Daily Sentinel)
Cannon’s latest re-election bid could be his toughest
June 18, 2008
It has become a ritual of sorts: Every two years, Chris Cannon has to scratch and scrape, getting battered at the state convention and fighting through a primary. Five times now in seven elections he has run the gauntlet and, despite some close calls, has emerged unscathed. This year, in Jason Chaffetz, he is staring down perhaps his toughest fight. (Salt Lake Tribune)
Wyoming
Oil price blues hit Wyoming
June 15, 2008
Like many Wyomingites, Jim Robinson commutes a significant distance to work each day. As might be expected, Robinson, the senior economist for the Wyoming Department of Revenue’s economic analysis division, carpools to save money. The savings on gasoline once realized two years ago seems insignificant today. (Casper Star Tribune)
Governor: Expensive fuel helps, hurts state
June 17, 2008
The escalating costs of oil and natural gas are a double-edged sword for energy-producing states like Wyoming, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said Friday evening in Jackson. Freudenthal made his remarks at Snow King Resort, speaking during the annual meeting of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities. (Jackson Hole News and Guide)
U.S., Wyo rig counts increase
June 17, 2008
The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States rose by 15 this week to 1,901. Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,504 were exploring for natural gas and 389 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. Eight were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,773. (Associated Press)
Washington Watch
Bush to Congress: Embrace energy exploration now
June 18, 2008
With gasoline topping $4 a gallon, President Bush urged Congress on Wednesday to lift its long-standing ban on offshore oil and gas drilling, saying the United States needs to increase its energy production. “There is no excuse for delay,” the president said in a statement in the Rose Garden. With the presidential election on the horizon, Bush blamed Democratic lawmakers for opposing his energy policies and for high gasoline costs. (Associated Press)
Colorado’s senators at odds on lessening pump pain
June 12, 2008
As Republicans and Democrats blamed each other for high gas prices, Colorado’s two U.S. senators offered opposing solutions Wednesday.Republican Sen. Wayne Allard called for increased domestic production, while Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar wants increased investment in renewable energy. (Denver Post)
McCain Seeks to End Offshore Drilling Ban
June 17, 2008
Sen. John McCain called yesterday for an end to the federal ban on offshore oil drilling, offering an aggressive response to high gasoline prices and immediately drawing the ire of environmental groups that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has courted for months. The move is aimed at easing voter anger over rising energy prices by freeing states to open vast stretches of the country’s coastline to oil exploration. In a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, nearly 80 percent said soaring prices at the pump are causing them financial hardship, the highest in surveys this decade. (Washington Post)
Smith’s break with GOP on energy policy fuels campaign attacks
June 17, 2008
In a state where “green” credentials are a political necessity, Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith (R) is finding that even casting a string of pro-environment and pro-renewable energy votes can be a liability in a close race. Over the last couple of weeks, Smith has sided with Senate Democrats on a series of energy matters — voting in favor of moving ahead with debate on climate change legislation, in favor of the Democrats’ gas price bill that sought to impose a windfall profit tax on oil companies along with other measures and in favor of a tax package that contains incentives for renewable energy. In all three instances Smith broke with his party leadership and joined a handful of other GOP senators taking sides with Senate Democrats. But while such votes would most likely be looked on favorably by the electorate in his Democratic-leaning home state that places a premium on environmental issues, Smith’s opponent is attempting to use those votes to paint Smith as a lawmaker who shifts his positions with the political winds. (E & E News)
House Dems signal 2009 cap-and-trade debate will be bigger than one committee
June 18, 2008
Significant House action on a comprehensive global warming bill isn’t expected until next year at the earliest. But some of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) closest allies are sending signals now that they expect the legislative process will mirror last year’s energy bill and go well beyond the bounds of the Energy and Commerce Committee and its chairman, Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.). Seventeen House Democrats introduced a cap-and-trade bill yesterday that, for the first time, falls primarily in the hands of the House Ways and Means Committee. Notable cosponsors of the legislation include Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the fourth and fifth highest-ranking House Democrats. (E & E News)
$228 Million Paid to County Governments as Compensation for Lost Taxes on Federal Lands
June 18, 2008
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced today that local governments with tax-exempt federal land in their jurisdictions will receive $228.5 million this year in compensation for forgone tax revenue. (BLM News Release)
Media Watch
Denver Post:
Colorado Loses in Roan Plan
June 11, 2008
During the last 18 months, Gov. Bill Ritter has made significant progress toward balancing energy development with responsible stewardship of our environment and wildlife resources. Unfortunately, the Bureau of Land Management’s decision to lease the entire 55,186-acre Roan plateau planning area in August shortchanges Colorado economically, environmentally and strategically. It also undermines the balanced approach we have so aggressively pursued. (Denver Post Guest Column)
Rush to drill for oil shale unwise
June 17, 2008
In recent days, some politicians have loudly demanded immediate leasing of massive oil shale reserves in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah as a way to swiftly lower gasoline prices. The idea is ludicrous, and goes directly against the advice of the very energy companies that are actively researching how to tap the enormous but economically elusive oil shale reserves. For nearly a century, oil shale has been the Big Rock Candy Mountain in Colorado, a promise of vast riches that always seems just over the next mountain. (Denver Post editorial)
Rocky Mountain News:
Big Oil blather
June 15, 2008
As a general principle, the government should not decide when a company’s or an industry’s profits are “excessive.” Wealth, innovation and economic growth depend upon businesses earning profits, after all. And the more money a company makes, the more it can expand its operations, compensate employees, benefit shareholders - and pay taxes. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats (and a few Republicans) are stuck in the mind-set of the 1970s, attempting last week to tack a windfall profits tax on Big Oil. Supporters of the tax got only 51 of the 60 votes they needed to proceed. (Rocky Mountain News editorial)
Salt Lake Tribune:
Political ploy: Cannon’s oil-shale bill wouldn’t lower gas prices
June 17, 2008
The development of oil shale deposits in eastern Utah, Wyoming and Colorado would be an expensive undertaking, risky for the environment, and a drain on dwindling water resources, with no quick return in additional oil supplies to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. Better short- and long-term answers are cutting consumption and developing biofuels and other renewable energy sources that do less damage to the environment. (Salt Lake Tribune editorial)
Casper Star Tribune:
An energy crisis, or energy opportunity?
June 17, 2008
Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso voted last week against the bipartisan Lieberman-Warner bill targeted at addressing climate change through a “cap and trade” emissions strategy. Sen. Enzi voted against the bill because he felt that an emissions trading scheme would negatively impact gasoline prices and Wyoming’s coal industry. He couldn’t be more wrong. (Casper Star Tribune guest column)
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel:
Study inaccurately reflects state business climate for the energy industry
Friday, June 13, 2008
The question of whether Colorado is and, more importantly, will continue to be a friendly place for the energy industry to do business cannot be answered with dated and misleading analysis. A Fraser Institute report published in 2007, which has become popular among supporters for stricter rules and regulation of the Colorado natural gas and oil industry names Colorado a top choice for energy companies to do business. Following this claim, supporters of the proposed regulations argue that the potential effects of the new rules on the industry are exaggerated. (Daily Sentinel guest column)
Summit Daily News:
A little oil and gas regulation can be a very good thing
June 17, 2008
The gas industry won the battle of the stickers that festooned people’s ball caps, chests and arms. Some 2,000 folks had gathered in Grand Junction to tell the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission their feelings about proposed new rules for oil and gas drilling in Colorado. It was easy to see that “Please don’t rule us out” outnumbered “Clean air, clean water, common sense,” the sticker handed out by conservationists. But that was merely a warm-up to the final decisions the commission will make later this summer. (Summit Daily News guest column)
The Pueblo Chieftain:
An abundance
June 15, 2008
Often, when Congress does nothing, that’s good news. This was our reaction last week when the Senate failed to pass a bill that would slap a “windfall profits” tax on oil companies. There’s been a lot of political posturing inside the Beltway since the price of gasoline has been rising in recent months. When consumers start feeling pain, as many are with the price of gasoline hovering around $4 a gallon, there is a herd instinct in Washington to “do something.” Socking it to the big, bad oil companies was just the “something” congressional Democrats had their eyes on. (Chieftain editorial)
Post Independent:
90-day drilling moratorium is a myth
June 18, 2008
As the process for updating the rules for Colorado’s booming oil and gas industry moves forward, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission staff and I will continue to incorporate constructive comments to ensure that the adopted rules fulfill our legislative mandate while allowing the industry to thrive. These changes are part of the rulemaking process that we created to write the best rules possible to balance Colorado’s increasing pace of drilling and development with protections for public health, the environment and wildlife. (Post Independent guest column)
more
Daily Herald:
U.S. can become world’s energy giant
June 12, 2008
We are glad to see that Rep. Chris Cannon has introduced a bill to allow the president to cut red tape that currently blocks the development of oil shale deposits in Utah and other states. Those resources are vast. According to Cannon’s office and other sources, Utah alone has more fuel locked in oil shale than there is in all of Saudi Arabia’s oil reserves. Just from oil shale, the U.S. could pump more barrels of fuel than all the OPEC nations combined. Total value: $100 trillion. (Daily Herald editorial)
Environment and Wildlife
Offshore oil drilling opponents are rethinking
June 18, 2008
The environmental movement, only recently poised for major advances on global warming and other issues, has suddenly found itself on the defensive as high gasoline prices shift the political climate nationwide and trigger defections by longtime supporters. (Los Angeles Times)
more
Agreement reached for wildlife area drilling outside New Castle
June 13, 2008
Colorado Wildlife Commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved a surface-use agreement with Orion Energy Partners that will allow the company to begin drillingCommissioners approved the agreement because of the possibility that if they didn’t, Orion could simply ignore Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) requests to lessen its impacts on the wildlife area, pay the state a bond and begin in Garfield Creek State Wildlife Area this summer. drilling in the habitat within 30 days once it received a state permit to drill. (Post Independent)
Ozone troubles persist
June 16, 2008
Ozone levels along the Front Range have remained flat and even increased in some years, despite a decade of major initiatives to cut emissions of the chemicals that create the pollutant. The standoff against ozone is in stark contrast to success with other major airborne pollutants, including tiny particles and carbon monoxide, which have been driven down in the past two decades thanks to numerous local efforts and federal regulations. (Rocky Mountain News)
Markets
Utilities’ $653 million deal will give customers a price break
June 13, 2008
Colorado Springs Utilities’ natural gas customers will get a price break for three decades under a $653 million deal made Wednesday. The typical residential user will see a savings of $1.75 per month for 30 years because of the deal, part of an overall savings of $150 million. But because natural gas prices are expected to rise this fall, the savings could be offset with other increases, said Utilities spokesman Dave Grossman. (Colorado Springs Gazette)
Natural gas will hurt, too
June 16, 2008
This summer, gas pumps are shocking drivers. Come winter, heating furnaces could shock homeowners. Skyrocketing natural gas prices will more than double the cost of heating homes for Coloradans this winter compared with five years earlier, according to Energy Outreach Colorado, a Denver-based nonprofit that helps needy families pay utility bills. (Rocky Mountain News)
Xcel: 38 percent request caused by natural gas price
June 17, 2008
Xcel Energy on Tuesday blamed escalating natural gas prices for raising monthly electricity bills by more than 38 percent in the next quarter. Colorado’s biggest utility with 1.3 million electric customers has asked state regulators to approve higher electricity rates. (Rocky Mountain News)
Industry News and Events
Congress of Racial Equality to Host Free Private Screening of New Documentary “Not Evil, Just Wrong”
You are invited to a special private screening of the feature-length documentary “Not Evil, Just Wrong” featuring Patrick Moore, founder of Greenpeace, Roy Innis, long-time Chair of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and numerous scientists and experts who examine how extreme environmentalism is damaging lives of the country’s most vulnerable populations.
View the film’s trailer by clicking here.
Wednesday, June 25 at 7 pm (immediately following the Western Leaders’ Appreciation BBQ at the Western Business Roundtable’s Summit of the West)
Snake River Lodge (Sundance Room)
Jackson Hole, WY
For more information please contact Brian McLaughlin (CORE) at 718.708.3509 or bmclaughlin@core-online.org or Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer (filmmakers) at 812.571.0611 or phelimmcaleer@gmail.com
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