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GRAND JUNCTION — Both candidates for House District 55 are ready to explore a multitude of energy sources.
Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, said Sunday he supports continuing offshore drilling and natural gas production, balanced with developing renew able energy and conservation. Buescher has signed on to the wind-energy-heavy T. Boone Pickens plan. He also carried legislation three years ago promoting coal gasification, or “clean coal.”
“Eighty percent of electricity production in this state comes from coal. We need to replace some of that with natural gas and replace some gasoline in our cars with natural gas,” Buescher said.
His opponent, Laura Bradford, a Collbran Republican, said Friday only rules based on “science and fact” should delay or constrict energy production.
“Everything needs to be on the table,” Bradford said. “Wind and solar are expensive but they’re coming along, we have to have coal, we have to have natural gas. We’re waiting for the day the government lifts nuclear plant restrictions and then we’ll have uranium.”
Bradford was referring to a long list of federal regulations on uranium mining.
Bradford said she would like to see closed mines in Gateway and Nucla become active again. The only conventional active uranium mill in the United States is in Utah.
Aside from energy production in Colorado, Brad ford said she also wants to see drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the outercontinental shelf of the United States.
“I would like the country to attack this soon, especially offshore and in ANWR,” she said.
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s recent decision to do away with a 90-day drilling mor a torium was “some welcome news” for Bradford. But she’s “still and sitting and waiting to see what the next an nounce ment is” on the proposed COGCC oil and gas production regulations.
Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commis sioner Rich Alward said the rules, which are currently being changed “don’t contradict science,” but also take into account economic and social desires.
Alward said all of the energy methods Bradford promotes should be considered and, if found to be reasonable, explored in combination.
The commission will next meet Sept. 22-23 to discuss wildlife and pit and waste rules.
Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, said Sunday he supports continuing offshore drilling and natural gas production, balanced with developing renew able energy and conservation. Buescher has signed on to the wind-energy-heavy T. Boone Pickens plan. He also carried legislation three years ago promoting coal gasification, or “clean coal.”
“Eighty percent of electricity production in this state comes from coal. We need to replace some of that with natural gas and replace some gasoline in our cars with natural gas,” Buescher said.
His opponent, Laura Bradford, a Collbran Republican, said Friday only rules based on “science and fact” should delay or constrict energy production.
“Everything needs to be on the table,” Bradford said. “Wind and solar are expensive but they’re coming along, we have to have coal, we have to have natural gas. We’re waiting for the day the government lifts nuclear plant restrictions and then we’ll have uranium.”
Bradford was referring to a long list of federal regulations on uranium mining.
Bradford said she would like to see closed mines in Gateway and Nucla become active again. The only conventional active uranium mill in the United States is in Utah.
Aside from energy production in Colorado, Brad ford said she also wants to see drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the outercontinental shelf of the United States.
“I would like the country to attack this soon, especially offshore and in ANWR,” she said.
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s recent decision to do away with a 90-day drilling mor a torium was “some welcome news” for Bradford. But she’s “still and sitting and waiting to see what the next an nounce ment is” on the proposed COGCC oil and gas production regulations.
Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commis sioner Rich Alward said the rules, which are currently being changed “don’t contradict science,” but also take into account economic and social desires.
Alward said all of the energy methods Bradford promotes should be considered and, if found to be reasonable, explored in combination.
The commission will next meet Sept. 22-23 to discuss wildlife and pit and waste rules.
