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Guv touts rural policies

Hickenlooper: State ready for tough new coal rules
Hickenlooper

DENVER – Gov. John Hickenlooper said Thursday he has placed an unprecedented focus on rural Colorado.

The Democratic governor spoke at the Capitol to Club 20 members during the Western Colorado advocacy group’s legislative trip to Denver.

“In the first four years, I’ve been to Club 20 counties just over 100 times,” Hickenlooper said. “I would argue that in a four-year period, that’s more than any governor in modern history.”

Hickenlooper has faced criticism over ignoring rural Colorado, especially after signing legislation that increased a rural renewable-energy standard that many ratepayers in Western Colorado say resulted in higher rates.

A package of gun-control bills signed by the governor also led to outrage, as rural Coloradans pointed to firearms as a way of life when it comes to hunting and agricultural activities.

Many in Colorado’s coal country have lambasted Hickenlooper for refusing to stand up to proposed federal rules aimed at cutting carbon-dioxide emissions.

But Hickenlooper said Colorado is well-prepared for the new rules, which are expected to be issued this summer.

“We’ve done so much already that, once all the dust settles, we should be pretty close to in compliance without having to do a whole lot more,” Hickenlooper said. “Our attention is focused on making sure that we get credit for all that we’ve already done.”

But there are other pains felt by rural Colorado that the governor has been asked to address, such as lackluster economic growth outside urban areas.

One concern is that the state will implement new rules and regulations governing the natural-gas and oil industry, which could lead to bans on hydraulic fracturing, thereby destroying economies in rural, energy-heavy parts of the state.

The governor has convened a task force to make legislative recommendations, which could include offering local governments more control over rules and regulations, such as allowing counties and municipalities to ban fracking. La Plata County Commissioner Gwen Lachelt, a Democrat, is co-chairwoman of the committee.

Hickenlooper said he expects as many as 70 recommendations to be presented to the task force, though it would take a two-thirds vote to advance any legislative proposals.

“I’m hoping that they can get it all done in those two days, but I’m going to reach out to both the chairs and say, ‘If you need another meeting, we’re all for it,’” Hickenlooper said.

He also stated his support for liquefied natural gas.

Another issue that has been facing Western Colorado is the Gunnison sage-grouse. Federal officials are in the process of classifying the birds as threatened to keep them from going extinct. They are found in portions of Colorado and southeastern Utah.

Hickenlooper is pushing for a lawsuit to overturn the federal government’s protective classification, pointing to voluntary efforts to save the bird. The governor said he is hopeful that a resolution will be reached before the September deadline, stating that he received a “conciliatory” letter from Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.

Meanwhile, environmental groups have filed a separate lawsuit seeking stricter protection.

The debate has set up a battle between business interests such as gas and oil that want to conduct operations in grouse territory and conservationists that want to protect the bird.

On a separate but similar issue, the greater sage-grouse that inhabit 11 states, including Colorado – Hickenlooper also is optimistic.

“We’re going to be at the table and very focused on finding a long-term resolution, which is to say no listing at all on the greater sage-grouse,” Hickenlooper said.

Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose, who attended the Club 20 event Thursday, said he appreciates that the governor is listening, but he is waiting to see results.

“We’re going to find out where the rubber meets the road,” Coram said. “I do have the governor’s ear, and I think that we have enough respect for each other that we can actually sit down with each other and talk about these situations.”

Christian Reece, incoming executive director of Club 20, said she, too, also is optimistic that rural Colorado might start to see more attention.

“I’m optimistic that the governor’s office is going to be willing to work with Club 20 and Western Colorado,” Reece said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to develop some partnerships to be able to move that forward.”

pmarcus@durangoherald.com



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