Colorado’s energy policies and production illustration by Greg Groesch / The Washington TimesWe often take a rather insular view of public policies at the state level — the notion that what happens in the state stays in the state, to paraphrase the famous marketing line.
At least one of these — and the most radical and egregious — is a bad idea imported from California, which last year imposed a near-halt on new oil and gas permits. Senate Bill 159 in Colorado would have done virtually the same thing, instituting a complete ban on all new oil and gas permits over the next five years.
It goes without saying that should these bills pass, the impact on Colorado’s economy would be devastating. Previous attacks on the industry by the state government have had profound consequences for the mostly rural counties that suffered job losses and sharp declines in economic activity in the aftermath. Even so, the oil and gas industry in Colorado remains a major job creator, supporting 153,000 jobs in the state in 2022.
National energy policy has always been of central importance, and that is only becoming clearer as we watch what is happening in the world beyond our borders. Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and the renewed threat to European security have, more than anything, highlighted the importance of a sound energy policy. Unfortunately, America’s response has been underwhelming, to say the least.