Vital for Colorado to Mayor Hancock,
Denver City Council: Reject Fracking Ban Proposal
DENVER (February 16, 2015) – Vital for Colorado, a coalition of more than 35,000 Coloradans, businesses, civic leaders and trade organizations that support the oil and gas industry, today issued an open letter to Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and City Council members, asking them to reject the demands of activists who want to ban fracking in Denver.
The letter, signed by Vital’s board of directors, acknowledges Hancock’s previous support for taking a comprehensive approach to oil and gas regulations, while also touting the economic benefits Denver has received in recent years from the oil and gas industry. It reads, in part:
“… The oil and gas industry occupies about 20 percent of downtown Denver’s office space, or about 4.5 million of the 22.3 million square feet of available space, according to a recent story in the Denver Business Journal. While the City of Denver actually has had little production, the city still received $17.9 million in oil industry-related corporate, personal sales, commercial and personal property taxes, according to a 2014 University of Colorado study. Denver-industry employees also accounted for $1.5 billion in salaries in 2012.
“We think that’s something to celebrate and to protect from outside interests that use scare tactics and fear to turn citizens against the industry. We’ve seen what has happened when they have pushed their divisive fracking bans in other Colorado cities, and now they’ve come to Denver to further their extremist agenda. … Vital for Colorado asks that you reject the agenda of those who wish to ban fracking in Denver and damage the city’s economy. We agree with Mayor Hancock’s sentiments from last Tuesday, as does Governor John Hickenlooper, that the right way to approach energy development is reasonable regulation and compromise, not bans or patchwork regulations.”
Vital for Colorado is a broad coalition of business and civic leaders formed to support responsible energy development. For more information, go to www.vitalforcolorado.com
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Contact:
Dan Haley
303-941-6440
February 16, 2015
The Honorable Michael Hancock
Members of the Denver City Council
Denver City and County Building
1437 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 80202
Re: “Don’t Frack Denver”
Dear Mayor Hancock and Denver City Council Members:
Colorado’s oil and gas industry has had a long, successful history in our state. From our earliest days, mineral extraction has been a vital part of our economy and who we are as Coloradans. For decades, Denver has benefitted from the industry.
Today, as you know, the oil and gas industry occupies about 20 percent of downtown Denver’s office space, or about 4.5 million of the 22.3 million square feet of available space, according to a recent story in the Denver Business Journal. While the City of Denver actually has had little production, the city still received $17.9 million in oil industry-related corporate, personal sales, commercial and personal property taxes, according to a 2014 University of Colorado study. Denver-industry employees also accounted for $1.5 billion in salaries in 2012.
Overall, the oil and gas industry has contributed $29 billion annually to Colorado’s economy in recent years and has helped support more than 100,000 good-paying jobs across the state. Colorado’s energy industry is helping lead our national push toward energy independence.
We think that’s something to celebrate and to protect from outside interests that use scare tactics and fear to turn citizens against the industry. We’ve seen what has happened when they have pushed their divisive fracking bans in other Colorado cities, and now they’ve come to Denver to further their extremist agenda.
On behalf of more than 35,000 Coloradans, businesses, civic leaders, chambers of commerce, and trade associations who have signed our pro-energy pledge, the Board of Directors of Vital for Colorado asks that you reject the agenda of those who wish to ban fracking in Denver and damage the city’s economy. Illegal bans are not the Colorado way. We agree with Mayor Hancock’s sentiments from last Tuesday, as does Governor John Hickenlooper, that the right way to approach energy development is reasonable regulation and compromise, not bans or patchwork regulations.
Hundreds of oil and gas industry employees call Denver home. As business leaders, we are proud of the industry. We know that you are too.
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors of Vital for Colorado
