OPINION:
Energy powers everything we do from the homes we live in to the industries that drive our economy, to healthcare, to technology. Supporting an energy approach that prioritizes safe, affordable, and reliable power provides good paying jobs and is critical to national security. Nowhere is this more evident than in my congressional district, Colorado’s 8th, which fuels the rest of the state.
Weld County, the north part of the district, is the fourth largest energy-producing county in the nation, producing 82% of oil and 56% of natural gas in Colorado. Adams County, the south part of the district, has the largest natural gas electricity generating facility in Colorado along with the only oil refinery. This refinery produces over one-third of the fuels used daily in our state. Since regional pipelines are at capacity, this local production keeps thousands of tanker trucks from having to import fuel into Colorado, thus reducing costs and saving tens of thousands of tons of carbon emissions annually. The 8th district is also home to other types of energy, including solar, geothermal, and the factory that builds almost half the United States’ supply of wind generators.
Wind and solar energy make my district a national leader in renewables while generating billions of dollars for the local community. Colorado’s natural gas reserves are among the cleanest in the world, and industry advancements have reduced methane emissions by well over 50% in the last decade, even as oil and gas production has increased.
In fact, districts like mine make the cleanest and most environmentally and socially responsible power anywhere on the planet. Pure Colorado natural gas is about 40% cleaner than Colorado’s current electrical grid. If we don’t produce it here, the growing worldwide demand for energy will drive production to places like Russia and China. These nations use slave labor, dirty coal, and low-quality natural gas. Merely replacing poor quality Russian natural gas in western Europe with clean American natural gas would save millions of tons of carbon emissions annually. And with at least 12% of the air pollution in the Denver area originating in China, allowing irresponsible nations to produce our power harms us not only economically, but environmentally as well. The United States and Colorado’s 8th district produce the cleanest power in the world, and we need more of it.
Recently I went on an “All of the Above” Energy Tour across my district to visit the workers who make this energy a reality. These tradesmen, from electricians to engineers to computer scientists, many unionized, are the backbone of our power grid and the foundation of our energy security. Their skill and dedication keep the lights on across Colorado and the rest of the country.
Because of my district’s strong energy presence, I am honored to serve as the first incoming member in fourteen years to be seated on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the oldest and one of the most influential committees in Congress. This gives me a direct role in shaping policies that impact our energy sector and economic competitiveness. To produce more energy, we must cut nonsensical red tape and promote responsible growth in all sectors. This policy is essential to securing America’s energy dominance, reducing the cost of living, and protecting the livelihoods of hardworking Coloradans.
In my part of Colorado, it is estimated we will need triple our current amount of electricity in just the next ten years. Both traditional and renewable energy sources will be required. Protecting and promoting variable resources like wind and solar will help. Baseload generation like gas and coal that never turns off is also essential. New technologies must be championed. Making these investments will directly benefit American workers and make a stronger and more diverse energy sector.
As we look to the future, I am committed to advancing policies that put energy security, affordability, and American jobs first. Colorado’s 8th district is proof that an all-of-the-above energy strategy works. I will continue fighting for solutions that unleash our full energy potential. America should lead the world in energy innovation instead of relying on foreign nations to keep the lights on. By embracing a comprehensive energy strategy that values all safe, affordable, and reliable solutions, we can create a stronger, cleaner, more secure future for generations to come.
• Rep. Gabe Evans is proudly serving Colorado’s Eighth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to serving in public office, Gabe served his country in the U.S. Army as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot, as an Arvada police officer, and in the Colorado State Legislature. Gabe and his wife, Anne, own and operate a family farm in southern Weld County where they raise their two boys.
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