Rocky Mountain Energy Contrast

As we hear more and more about a potential spike in oil prices, the Rocky Mountain west has become an interesting contrast in how best to deal with America’s energy challenges. In Colorado, the crisis is apparently being used as a way to do more favors for the oil industry. Specifically, conservatives killed an "oil-and-gas bill that could have forced companies to pay more for harming private property where they drill." Although lawmakers "acknowledged that the debate is second in importance only to that over water in many parts of the state," they were unwilling to act on behalf of citizens who are becoming angrier at energy companies for their abusive behavior. One lawmaker who voted against it is even having second thoughts. Rep. Ray Rose (R-Montrose) is now worried about explaining his vote against the bill to constituents who are concerned about the breakneck pace of gas development in their area and said, "I'll be lucky to get out without being lynched."

This push to allow oil drilling at all costs stands in stark relief to the efforts of Wyoming and Montana, which are both pioneering innovative renewable energy projects - projects that are the beginning of an energy policy that could finally get us off oil. The Casper Tribune reports that Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal is using state government to push a new solar- and wind-powered stock water pump that helps ranchers who typically rely on surface water for their livestock. The pumps, developed by the University of Wyoming, will replace many smaller, less efficient diesel engines that ranchers have been using. This innovation follows news that Montana regulators have approved a massive new wind energy farm in the Judith Basin.

This dichotomy is emblematic of the larger energy policy questions dogging the Bush administration, which falsely claims that drilling is the way out of America's energy problems. Clearly, that's not true, and states are moving in to fill that leadership void.