Kim Miller: Ritter, Romer should encourage renewables, not fracking

[Loretta Lohman]

Kim Miller: Ritter, Romer should encourage renewables, not fracking

Posted:   09/22/2017 07:25:25 PM MDT

Former governors Bill Ritter and Roy Romer are doing TV ads promoting fracking in Colorado. They claim fracking is good for Colorado because it reduces our state's carbon footprint, that we need natural gas, and we should turn Colorado into a "national model not by banning fracking, but by making it as good as we can." They cite that we have some of the toughest regulations anywhere. These ads are funded by Protect Colorado, whose mission is to promote gas and oil development.

Fracking is not good for Colorado. Even with its tough regulations Colorado has experienced earthquakes, a house explosion and continually poor air quality due to fracking and its waste water disposal. Fracking uses 3-6 million gallons of fresh water per well that gets left behind in deep wells never to be used again because it is permanently contaminated.

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That's a consideration in our climate, where water is scarce and becoming scarcer.Yes, natural gas leaves less CO2 in the air than burning coal, but the leakage of methane at the well and in the miles of connected pipe is a huge issue. Methane, though not as long lasting as Co2, is 30 times more potent as a heat trapping gas.

Natural gas is a finite resource. Its carbon output is less than burning coal, but it's not the best answer to our energy needs in the long run. Mr. Romer and Mr. Ritter should use their bipartisan approach to make Colorado a national model for renewable energy. Instead of encouraging companies to spend more money on fracking by providing federal subsidies, we should have a federal policy to place a fee on carbon. This would encourage investment in renewable energy, and that would be good for Colorado.

Kim Miller

Fort Collins

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