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GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — She has been doing the work for almost eight months. Now Garfield County Commissioner Trési Houpt is one step closer to officially being named as a Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation (COGCC) commissioner.
The Democrat-controlled state Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee on Tuesday approved — but on a party line, 4-to-3 vote — sending a motion to the full Senate that recommends senators approve the confirmation of Houpt and five other people as COGCC commissioners.
The day the Senate will vote on the motion wasn’t immediately clear late Tuesday, Houpt said. She said that she was “hopeful” that the motion would be approved.
Those in the committee who voted against the motion had made objections that senators did not have enough time to interview the prospective COGCC commissioners during a committee hearing Tuesday morning, Houpt said.
Despite the concerns, the committee voted to confirm Richard D. Alward of Grand Junction as a member with experience in soil conservation, Thomas L. Compton of Hesperus as a member engaged in agriculture, Mark D. Cutright of Aurora as a member with oil and gas experience, Michael P. Dowling of Denver because of his environmental and wildlife experience, Joshua B. Epel of Greenwood Village for experience in the oil and gas industry, and Houpt as a local government official.
In July, Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter named Houpt as one of several new members to the COGCC.
Lawmakers last year altered the commission’s role, expanded it to nine members from seven and added new requirements for member expertise and backgrounds.
The changes came after complaints the commission had become too cozy with the industry amid an energy boom that was putting straining local communities.
Evan Dreyer, a spokesman for Gov. Bill Ritter, said Houpt and the other commissioners have been serving since last summer, and called their confirmations more of a “procedural matter.” He added, however, that there might be more of a discussion of their nominations because of the “high-profile nature” of their positions within the COGCC, which is undergoing a controversial rule-making process.
Dreyer said he was confident that the motion to approve Houpt and the other five as commissioners would pass in the Senate.
Besides Houpt’s current roles as a Garfield County commissioner and a COGCC commissioner, she is active in other groups including serving on the board of directors for Colorado Counties Inc. and is vice-chair of the Water Quality Steering Committee for the National Association of Counties.
Attempts to reach Republican senators on the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee were not immediately successful Tuesday afternoon.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact Phillip Yates: 384-9117
pyates@postindependent.com
Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO
The Democrat-controlled state Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee on Tuesday approved — but on a party line, 4-to-3 vote — sending a motion to the full Senate that recommends senators approve the confirmation of Houpt and five other people as COGCC commissioners.
The day the Senate will vote on the motion wasn’t immediately clear late Tuesday, Houpt said. She said that she was “hopeful” that the motion would be approved.
Those in the committee who voted against the motion had made objections that senators did not have enough time to interview the prospective COGCC commissioners during a committee hearing Tuesday morning, Houpt said.
Despite the concerns, the committee voted to confirm Richard D. Alward of Grand Junction as a member with experience in soil conservation, Thomas L. Compton of Hesperus as a member engaged in agriculture, Mark D. Cutright of Aurora as a member with oil and gas experience, Michael P. Dowling of Denver because of his environmental and wildlife experience, Joshua B. Epel of Greenwood Village for experience in the oil and gas industry, and Houpt as a local government official.
In July, Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter named Houpt as one of several new members to the COGCC.
Lawmakers last year altered the commission’s role, expanded it to nine members from seven and added new requirements for member expertise and backgrounds.
The changes came after complaints the commission had become too cozy with the industry amid an energy boom that was putting straining local communities.
Evan Dreyer, a spokesman for Gov. Bill Ritter, said Houpt and the other commissioners have been serving since last summer, and called their confirmations more of a “procedural matter.” He added, however, that there might be more of a discussion of their nominations because of the “high-profile nature” of their positions within the COGCC, which is undergoing a controversial rule-making process.
Dreyer said he was confident that the motion to approve Houpt and the other five as commissioners would pass in the Senate.
Besides Houpt’s current roles as a Garfield County commissioner and a COGCC commissioner, she is active in other groups including serving on the board of directors for Colorado Counties Inc. and is vice-chair of the Water Quality Steering Committee for the National Association of Counties.
Attempts to reach Republican senators on the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee were not immediately successful Tuesday afternoon.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact Phillip Yates: 384-9117
pyates@postindependent.com
Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO
