New gas pipeline proposed in western Colorado

Federal officials are reviewing a plan by EnCana Oil and Gas USA for a new gas pipeline that would run 26 miles from Collbran to Parachute.

[Stealing from Colorado]

Of course they are completely defacing the Western slope for gas that we don't even get the benefit of using here in our own state and continue to pay exorbitant rates for as well.

Where are our lawmakers? Laughing all the way to the bank I would guess with their election coffers stuffed.

Once EnCana has polluted as much land as they can, they will walk away with their "exemptions" and a golden parachute and the folks on the western slope will be left with dead land.

THANKS!

[GetREAL]

Stealing from Colorado wrote:

Of course they are completely defacing the Western slope for gas that we don't even get the benefit of using here in our own state and continue to pay exorbitant rates for as well.
Where are our lawmakers? Laughing all the way to the bank I would guess with their election coffers stuffed.
Once EnCana has polluted as much land as they can, they will walk away with their "exemptions" and a golden parachute and the folks on the western slope will be left with dead land.
THANKS!

Comments like this just floor me. Have you every seen a gas pipeline during construction or observed the right-of-way after completion? Probably not.
And why is it bad to send a Colorado-produced commodity to a national market? Should, for example, Californians rant and rave because produce grown in their state is sold elsewhere? No!

Fact is, natual gas is one of the most environmentally friendly energy sources we have and pipeline is the most environmentally friendly transportation mode for it.

Unless you completely minimize energy use in your own lifestyle (drive no cars, eat no meat, don't heat your home, don't use electricity) it's pretty hypocritical to be knee-jerk against energy development. A more rational approach is required.

[MikeParker]

GetREAL wrote:

<quoted text>
And why is it bad to send a Colorado-produced commodity to a national market? Should, for example, Californians rant and rave because produce grown in their state is sold elsewhere?

Shipping the locally produced natural gas to the west coast has raised the cost of natural gas for consumers in Colorado. I seriously doubt it has a negative impact on California when we buy their produce.

[homechief]

The pipeline would ship natural gas from Mesa County to a gas plant in Meeker.
That does not saw a thing about California.

[GetREAL]

MikeParker wrote:

<quoted text>
Shipping the locally produced natural gas to the west coast has raised the cost of natural gas for consumers in Colorado. I seriously doubt it has a negative impact on California when we buy their produce.

I agree about no negative impact - that's part of my point. But, unless California produce is a very weird situation, shipping it to Colorado for sale will indeed increase the price for it in California.

BTW, I was just using California as an example; I haven't a clue where this gas is going or where it ultimately will be consumed.

[me myself and I]

MikeParker wrote:

<quoted text>
Shipping the locally produced natural gas to the west coast has raised the cost of natural gas for consumers in Colorado. I seriously doubt it has a negative impact on California when we buy their produce.

To add insult to injury we are paying for the pipeline! Look at your Xcel bill it is on there.

[me myself and I]

GetREAL wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree about no negative impact - that's part of my point. But, unless California produce is a very weird situation, shipping it to Colorado for sale will indeed increase the price for it in California.
BTW, I was just using California as an example; I haven't a clue where this gas is going or where it ultimately will be consumed.

Unless someone like good old Bill C. comes along and decides that it has to be sold to them cheaper than can be produced.

[MikeParker]

GetREAL wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree about no negative impact - that's part of my point. But, unless California produce is a very weird situation, shipping it to Colorado for sale will indeed increase the price for it in California.

I think the weird situation with CA produce is that they produce more than the state can possibly use and interstate commerce creates a much bigger market and employs many additional farmers. But - I don't want to beat a dead horse (and an irrelevant one, as someone pointed out) so that's my last CA comment.
All I know is that these pipelines are all about generating profit for the corporations because that's what corporations do. You can guarantee this pipeline is either about demanding a higher price for their product or getting more product on the market to take advantage of today's prices. Nothing wrong with that - it's capitalism at it's finest. Hopefully a few jobs will be generated along the way and the mountains won't be destroyed.

[Observer]

The Colbran to Parachute pipeline might not increase gas prices in Colorado, but the Rockies Express Pipeline will. It's going to connect the West Slope with big markets back east like Chicago. Right now we get cheap gas because we're producing more than we can use and there isn't enough pipeline capacity to get it all to national markets. Companies are spending $4.5 billion on the Rockies Express so they can sell gas produced here for more money in the national market. That will eliminate our discount. It's not good or bad, it's just the way things work. What's bad is that our severance tax is so low that we're the only state that exports oil and gas and doesn't benefit from it.