Gardner, Colorado Republicans Push
Energy Legislation
Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and House Republican colleagues from Colorado joined other representatives in introducing legislation at the nation’s capital yesterday as part of the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act.
The package of domestic energy production legislation is aimed at reducing energy costs and fueling economic growth and job creation, according to a news release from Gardner’s office.
H.R. 4480, called the Strategic Energy Production Act of 2012, links a drawdown of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to increasing oil and gas leases on federal land.
“Our country is in desperate need of a national energy strategy, and increasing domestic production should be a major component of that plan,” Gardner said in the release.
“By increasing oil and gas leases on federal land to match what is released from our emergency energy reserves, we can turn a short-term supply fix into a long-term policy that promotes America’s energy independence.”
Colorado’s GOP representatives have been very active in calling for a comprehensive energy agenda. Scott Tipton, Mike Coffman and Doug Lamborn also also have bills contained in the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act.
“It is no surprise that Colorado members are playing a major role in shaping this national energy policy considering our state is home to a diverse group of energy producers,” Gardner said. “We truly embrace an ‘all of the above’ strategy in Colorado that includes solar, wind, oil, natural gas and coal.”
Clean Energy Collective is now based in Boulder Colorado. 
Though a small step and almost over 16 years into the die-off of our forests, this effort should be applauded ...
The best ballot initiative is one that will ban initiatives. Otherwise what is the point of electing legislators. 
Thanks for the info Fred! 
Tri-State Board Policy 117 limits member co-op generation to 5%.
LPEA has asked them to lift that for community solar gardens.
https://www.lpea.coop/pdf/board_meeting/resolutions/2012/201213_tristate_policy_117.pdf 
To see this exciting change as "scary" seems incredibly short-sited to me. Between the increasing power demands caused by ...
Comment by fred kirsch on 7 June 2012:
Still no mention of efficiency. GOP fail!
Comment by topher on 9 June 2012:
Just curious – how will selling Colorado’s natural gas to Brazil and elsewhere promote America’s energy independence? Seems like the opposite to me – selling America’s potential energy independence to the highest bidder.
Comment by Mike Foster on 12 June 2012:
The definition of energy independance is to reduce Net Imports of Petroleum Products to zero or become a Net Exporter of Petroleum Products.
US Net Imports of Petroleum Products currently stand at 9 million barrels per day.
Comment by fred kirsch on 15 June 2012:
That’s a somewhat narrow definition. What about solar panels, wind turbine parts, biofuels. If we are importing those does that make us “energy dependent”. Not that it matters, petrol products are on a global market. We could supply all of our needs domestically and still have to pay global prices. Unless of course you are against free trade and a global free market. You aren’t a communist are you?
Comment by Mike Foster on 20 June 2012:
Fred,
I don’t understand your reasoning. The U.S. has a 550 Billion annual trade deficit. The idea is to export more than you import otherwise that deficit will reduce your GDP. Thus if we produced enough petroleum products to become a net exporter US GDP would increase dramatically. The same goes for producing and exporting other products.
Comment by fred kirsch on 10 July 2012:
If GDP goes up do petroleum prices go down? The price at the pump is based (at least in part) on the global price.
I still believe the best way to reduce our imports and the amount that we pay for energy is to reduce waste. We have a huge reserve of waste that we can tap. Unfortunately the GOP seems to be carrying a huge reserve of waste in their heads (not that Dems are better).
Comment by Mike Foster on 23 July 2012:
Fred,
GDP and consumer prices don’t correlate, but if you export more than you import net wealth to citizens, and their federal, state, and local governments is increased.
Reducing waste will also increase GDP as we will not need to import as much.
Thus produce more use less and export the difference to create wealth.
Comment by fred kirsch on 27 July 2012:
makes sense. thanks. Does increasing GDP increase inflation? I know, not the conversation for an energy thread.
Comment by Mike Foster on 30 July 2012:
Fred,
Trade deficits are a greater driver of inflation than trade surpluses.