Press Release - Statement on Oil Shale P.E.I.S
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, SEPT. 4, 2008
CONTACT:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370, evan.dreyer@state.co.us
GOV. RITTER STATEMENT ON OIL SHALE P.E.I.S.
Gov. Bill Ritter issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Department of Interior's publishing of a final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for commercial oil shale development:
"As the national debate over America's energy future continues, we must be clear that Colorado is committed to helping meet America's energy needs. We are issuing about 35 new oil and gas drilling permits a day. We are building a New Energy Economy that is bringing thousands of new jobs to Colorado. And our research institutions are developing cutting-edge, new energy technologies.
"But with the Department of Interior's action today, the federal government has once again failed to act as a responsible partner for Colorado. The Bush Administration is engaging in last-minute maneuvering in its waning days rather than developing a comprehensive, meaningful and responsible long-term energy policy for America's future.
"Finalizing an Environmental Impact Statement without any clear understanding of the environmental, community, economic and energy impacts of commercial-scale oil shale development is irresponsible, short-sighted and premature. This does nothing to address gas prices at the pump today and has the potential to do much more harm than good."