Big night for Big Oil -- Energy industry turns back state initiatives
The petroleum industry spent more than $31 million to defeat Washington's Initiative 1631, but the Colorado Oil and Gas Association topped our state's record spending: Its members shelled out $41 million to beat Proposition 112 in the Rocky Mountain State.
The energy industry professes support for solar and wind power, but commits enormous amounts of money whenever -- and wherever -- the carbon economy is in any way threatened.
The money here gone to beat back a first-in-the-nation carbon fee on emissions by the state's major polluters in Washington. The big spending in Colorado was to turn away a requirement that oil and gas wells be set back at least 2,500 feet from any occupied building.
It was gloating time, even in Colorado where proponents raised and spent less than $1 million.
"I want every Coloradan to know that we are committed to developing our resources in a responsible manner that protects the environment and keeps our employees and communities healthy and safe," Dan Haley, CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association, told the Denver Post.
The carbon economy scored victories across the West. These included:
--Arizona: Prop. 127 would have required electrical utilities to supply 50 percent of the Grand Canyon State's energy from renewables by the year 2050. Arizona sees a lot of the sun, but still burns coal to get power.
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