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Republican candidate for Congress, Scott Tipton, addresses his audience at the Buffalo Valley restaurant south of Glenwood Springs Wednesday afternoon.
Congressional candidate Scott Tipton on Wednesday called for responsible energy development on top of the Roan Plateau, the Western Slope and elsewhere in the United States, saying the country is too dependent on places such as the Middle East for such resources.
Speaking at a Garfield County Republican luncheon, Tipton also heard from one Republican who said it's important for their party to look after the interests of the environment as well.
"I think we all need to be environmentalists," Silt Mayor Dave Moore said during a meeting of about 30 people at the Buffalo Valley Inn south of Glenwood Springs.
He said he fears that Republicans are failing to show leadership on the issue because they view anything that Democrats support as being bad, environmental protection included.
Tipton said ideas should be judged on their merits, and not based on whether Republicans or Democrats espouse them.
"It's looking at what's going to be right and best for all of the people," he said.
Speaking at a Garfield County Republican luncheon, Tipton also heard from one Republican who said it's important for their party to look after the interests of the environment as well.
"I think we all need to be environmentalists," Silt Mayor Dave Moore said during a meeting of about 30 people at the Buffalo Valley Inn south of Glenwood Springs.
He said he fears that Republicans are failing to show leadership on the issue because they view anything that Democrats support as being bad, environmental protection included.
Tipton said ideas should be judged on their merits, and not based on whether Republicans or Democrats espouse them.
"It's looking at what's going to be right and best for all of the people," he said.
Tipton, a Cortez businessman, is challenging U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa. Salazar is completing his first two-year term representing Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, of which western Colorado is a part.
Tipton said it's important to pursue alternative fuels, but also expand development of domestic supplies of traditional energy. He criticized Salazar for voting against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and off U.S. coasts, saying Salazar is trying to have it both ways by calling for energy self-sufficiency but saying no to domestic energy development.
"We can't just utter the words biodiesel and ethanol and believe that your work is done," he said.
In supporting drilling on top of the Roan Plateau near Rifle, Tipton noted that the plateau originally was an energy reserve. He said the law transferring its ownership to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management stated that its energy resources should be developed.
The BLM is close to issuing a management plan that is expected to allow natural gas drilling on top of the plateau. Earlier in the planning process local communities had opposed such drilling, as had Salazar during his first campaign for Congress.
Moore said he doesn't oppose energy development but is concerned about inadequate reclamation following gas drilling in western Garfield County. He also suggested that Republicans hadn't signed a petition for a state initiative that sought to provide protection to landowners who suffer impacts from gas development.
"I say shame on all of you because it was a good petition; it would have made the one that damaged the property pay for it," he said.
Tipton said it's important to pursue alternative fuels, but also expand development of domestic supplies of traditional energy. He criticized Salazar for voting against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and off U.S. coasts, saying Salazar is trying to have it both ways by calling for energy self-sufficiency but saying no to domestic energy development.
"We can't just utter the words biodiesel and ethanol and believe that your work is done," he said.
In supporting drilling on top of the Roan Plateau near Rifle, Tipton noted that the plateau originally was an energy reserve. He said the law transferring its ownership to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management stated that its energy resources should be developed.
The BLM is close to issuing a management plan that is expected to allow natural gas drilling on top of the plateau. Earlier in the planning process local communities had opposed such drilling, as had Salazar during his first campaign for Congress.
Moore said he doesn't oppose energy development but is concerned about inadequate reclamation following gas drilling in western Garfield County. He also suggested that Republicans hadn't signed a petition for a state initiative that sought to provide protection to landowners who suffer impacts from gas development.
"I say shame on all of you because it was a good petition; it would have made the one that damaged the property pay for it," he said.
The man behind the effort, Glenwood Democrat John Gorman, and fellow circulators fell far short in their efforts to gain enough signatures get the measure on this fall's ballot.
"I think there's some places where we need to compromise as Republicans and lock our elbows with our Democratic friends and try to walk together and solve some problems," Moore said.
Tipton said he has talked to avid hunters concerned about loss of hunting grounds to energy development. He said it's important for companies to take advantage of low-impact new technologies in gas and oil shale development.
"That is our land and we're going to be there to protect it," he said.
He also noted the positive economic aspects of the Western Slope's natural gas boom.
"I'm talking to families now that have jobs and they're able to feed their kids ... so we can have responsible development," he said.
"I think there's some places where we need to compromise as Republicans and lock our elbows with our Democratic friends and try to walk together and solve some problems," Moore said.
Tipton said he has talked to avid hunters concerned about loss of hunting grounds to energy development. He said it's important for companies to take advantage of low-impact new technologies in gas and oil shale development.
"That is our land and we're going to be there to protect it," he said.
He also noted the positive economic aspects of the Western Slope's natural gas boom.
"I'm talking to families now that have jobs and they're able to feed their kids ... so we can have responsible development," he said.
On other issues Wednesday, Tipton:
n voiced support for the war in Iraq. "We've made the commitment. I think to pull out now would be a huge mistake. We would see massive internal civil war going on," he said.
n said U.S. borders need to be secured from illegal immigration while the need for legal migrant help is met. "We should not be approaching this from the standpoint that we will punish employers first," said Tipton, who said the government hasn't provided companies with the tools to verify the legality of workers.
n said marriage is meant to be between a man and a woman and laws should reflect that. "I don't think it's unreasonable to protect an institution that has served this nation for so long and so well," he said.
Contact Dennis Webb: 945-8515, ext. 516
dwebb@postindependent.com
n voiced support for the war in Iraq. "We've made the commitment. I think to pull out now would be a huge mistake. We would see massive internal civil war going on," he said.
n said U.S. borders need to be secured from illegal immigration while the need for legal migrant help is met. "We should not be approaching this from the standpoint that we will punish employers first," said Tipton, who said the government hasn't provided companies with the tools to verify the legality of workers.
n said marriage is meant to be between a man and a woman and laws should reflect that. "I don't think it's unreasonable to protect an institution that has served this nation for so long and so well," he said.
Contact Dennis Webb: 945-8515, ext. 516
dwebb@postindependent.com
