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ASPEN — Every mayor from here to DeBeque converged Friday in Aspen to, among other things, draft a resolution on the regional boom in natural gas drilling.
The group met in Silt last month and took a short flight along the Colorado River and the Interstate 70 to look at the area’s many gas wells, oil shale projects and gravel pits.
The group is now asking for a comprehensive state energy policy that not only
addresses the natural gas boom, but also examines pollution and global warming.
The coalition drafted a resolution recommending a long-term plan to offset the short-term boom of local gas reserves. The region has a history of boom and bust, and the mayors hope to avoid big environmental and social impacts of the current natural gas boom and any negative effects when the resources run out.
The group’s resolution calls for increased local control over expendable natural resources. The mayors said it is important to audit the production of gas companies in order to collect taxes accurately. They also hope to create a trust fund during this boom time to taper the effects when the gas runs out in an estimated 10 to 20 years.
The most powerful tool, most agreed, is raising the severance tax on companies that deplete irreplaceable natural resources.
Parachute Mayor Roy McClung said the natural gas boom has had a huge impact on his town. He wanted to temper the effects of the boom without discouraging companies from bringing finances and infrastructure to his community.
He said he’s not against gas companies bringing business and tax revenue to his town — he said he’s pleased that the town’s hotels are full, that restaurants are busy and gas stations are flush. But the influx of workers means the town has traffic problems and roads are at capacity with large trucks.
Other topics included the impact of the many gravel pits (gravel is necessary for making roads, particularly in developing gas-drilling areas) along the Colorado River, as well as the diversion of water to the Front Range.
With skyrocketing real estate prices, Basalt Mayor Leroy Duroux said there is no affordable “downvalley” any longer, and all areas are scrambling for workers to fill positions.
Glenwood Springs Mayor Bruce Christensen said that workers who once commuted to his town from nearby Silt, New Castle or Rifle can’t afford to live there anymore.
“I think these issues all tie together,” said DeBeque Mayor Donald Cramer. “Everyone has to start being a good steward of their property.”
Vail Daily, Vail, Coloradpo
The group met in Silt last month and took a short flight along the Colorado River and the Interstate 70 to look at the area’s many gas wells, oil shale projects and gravel pits.
The group is now asking for a comprehensive state energy policy that not only
addresses the natural gas boom, but also examines pollution and global warming.
The coalition drafted a resolution recommending a long-term plan to offset the short-term boom of local gas reserves. The region has a history of boom and bust, and the mayors hope to avoid big environmental and social impacts of the current natural gas boom and any negative effects when the resources run out.
The group’s resolution calls for increased local control over expendable natural resources. The mayors said it is important to audit the production of gas companies in order to collect taxes accurately. They also hope to create a trust fund during this boom time to taper the effects when the gas runs out in an estimated 10 to 20 years.
The most powerful tool, most agreed, is raising the severance tax on companies that deplete irreplaceable natural resources.
Parachute Mayor Roy McClung said the natural gas boom has had a huge impact on his town. He wanted to temper the effects of the boom without discouraging companies from bringing finances and infrastructure to his community.
He said he’s not against gas companies bringing business and tax revenue to his town — he said he’s pleased that the town’s hotels are full, that restaurants are busy and gas stations are flush. But the influx of workers means the town has traffic problems and roads are at capacity with large trucks.
Other topics included the impact of the many gravel pits (gravel is necessary for making roads, particularly in developing gas-drilling areas) along the Colorado River, as well as the diversion of water to the Front Range.
With skyrocketing real estate prices, Basalt Mayor Leroy Duroux said there is no affordable “downvalley” any longer, and all areas are scrambling for workers to fill positions.
Glenwood Springs Mayor Bruce Christensen said that workers who once commuted to his town from nearby Silt, New Castle or Rifle can’t afford to live there anymore.
“I think these issues all tie together,” said DeBeque Mayor Donald Cramer. “Everyone has to start being a good steward of their property.”
Vail Daily, Vail, Coloradpo
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