Energy, conservation debated
Nielson said the approach would put money directly back into consumers' pockets, stretch existing resources and stave off the need to build more costly infrastructure for power and fuel — a need that would raise Utah's relatively low energy prices.
But several members of the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Interim Committee questioned whether energy development shouldn't be considered on at least an equal plane with conservation initiatives.
Without naming names, legislators also wanted the governor's energy adviser to remind key Utah officials that the state should be advocating for resource development as it works with the federal government on energy issues that affect Utah.
Before Nielson's talk, the committee's meeting focused heavily on presentations from representatives of the natural-gas, oil-shale and mining industries.
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. general manager Brad Miller spoke on behalf of the Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States.
Miller outlined oil and gas development issues that include a Bureau of Land Management proposal to add an additional 3 million acres to about 12 million acres that are already off limits to drilling, adding that his industry has a "small impact."
Miller's comments came a day after several conservation groups assailed the BLM's six recently proposed land-management plans for not doing enough to protect the environment.
Utah Department of Environmental Quality director Rick Sprott and Miller sparred in front of the committee over how much state regulators are "inserting" themselves in talks about a proposal by Colorado-based Bill Barrett Corp. to drill more than 800 additional natural-gas wells as part of its West Tavaputs project.
Sprott disagreed with Miller's claim that the state's environmental regulations are tougher than those of the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Red Leaf Resources Inc. vice president Laura Nelson said companies face many environmental "challenges" in developing Utah's tar-sands resources, but it will be "very, very different" than the huge impact of sands operations in Canada. "We will address the challenges up front," said Nelson, speaking as chairwoman of the Utah Mining Association's Oil Shale and Tar Sands Committee.
Mining association president David Litvin took a moment to remind lawmakers that the United States is already behind on developing its vast oil-shale and tar-sands resources, most of which are located in Utah, Colorado and Wyoming.
Recent comments
I am not opposed to conservation efforts, or am I opposed to drilling…
Stewart | Oct. 16, 2008 at 11:35 a.m.
