While speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, I supported the development of tougher energy regulations so we could balance responsible energy development with protecting our environment and the health and safety of our citizens. As a result, our state regulators oversee every aspect of oil and natural gas production from start to finish.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration released its Residential Energy Consumption survey detailing energy costs across the nation. The report found that average Colorado household energy bills are 23 percent less than the national average. Why? Because Colorado is an energy-producing state.
Our energy resources allow for easier access to fuel our power plants, and the savings from reduced transport and processing costs are passed along to consumers. That means Coloradans, unlike residents in many other states, have more money left in their pockets after paying their power bills every month. Chief among those benefiting are seniors living on fixed incomes and those who are struggling to make ends meet.
Through the legislative process, I learned how many Coloradans are fighting to keep their heads above water, especially in the winter. Higher energy costs often force many Colorado families to make difficult choices each month. For some, that can mean the difference between proper school supplies and a nutritious diet for growing children or keeping their home warm on cold January nights.
Fortunately, these lower energy costs are good news for those living in difficult situations. While government programs and assistance can provide some relief, Colorado’s energy industry is also playing an important role. The jobs that are created draw from a wide variety of education and skill levels, and the lower energy prices we all enjoy leave a little more money in the average Coloradans bank account each month.
That is why I support hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. While fracking has successfully been utilized by Colorado energy producers for decades, recent innovations such as horizontal drilling have unlocked vast shale resources once thought to be impossible or uneconomical to develop. And this process is overseen by dedicated professionals in environmental protection and environmental and public health.
The debate on fracking is an important one. We should always raise questions on activities that could impact our environment or the health and safety of our communities, and I welcome those conversations.
For now, I urge Coloradans to sort through the rhetoric, get the facts on fracking and learn why we are all benefiting from domestic energy development.
Terrance Carroll was speaker of the Colorado State House of Representatives from 2009 to 2011. A lawyer and minister, Carroll is a co-chair of Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development’s Advisory Committee.