Rep. Gabe Evans is a Colorado Energy Champion

By Hunter Rivera | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

As the seventh-largest energy-producing state in the nation, Colorado has established itself as a leader in not only traditional energy, but renewable and next-generation sources as well. That’s why new, all-of-the-above energy legislation moving through Congress is so important for the Centennial State.

Just last week, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced the SPEED Act, a bipartisan perm​​itting reform bill that would remove barriers to energy development and deployment. Before it comes to the House floor for a vote, the Energy & Commerce Committee will offer its own contributions to the legislative package.

As a member of that important committee and the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus, our representative, Gabe Evans, will play a key role as an all-of-the-above energy advocate. Rep. Evans understands something too many in Washington overlook: America needs more energy, and we should once again make it possible to build major energy projects in our own country.

Here in the eighth district, energy production is a way of life, providing thousands of jobs to Coloradans. Recent investments within the district amounted to more than a billion dollars over the past few years. These opportunities span industries, from oil and gas to wind and solar to manufacturing.

Together, Rep. Evans and I talked about this approach when we toured a diverse range of energy production facilities throughout the district. Seeing the energy facilities that fuel our home state firsthand was an inspiring experience because it’s easy to talk about an all-of-the-above energy approach. Here in Colorado, we live it.

The eighth district offers one of the strongest examples in the country of how unleashing all forms of American energy can lower energy costs and support responsible development. In addition to being home to the cleanest natural gas molecule in the country – dubbed the “Colorado Molecule” – we now generate 43% of in-state electricity from renewable sources. Earlier this year, our state legislature even passed legislation classifying nuclear as “clean,” a milestone for encouraging even more energy development in our state. 

To continue this important work, Rep. Evans proved to be a champion of all-of-the-above energy during contentious negotiations this summer on the future of energy investments. At the inaugural Energy Imperatives Summit in Washington, D.C., Rep. Evans highlighted the energy diversity throughout his district and advocated for the continuation of policy levers that make our reality possible.

We need more leaders who see energy as a “both, and” conversation rather than “either, or.” 

Rep. Evans has proven that it is possible to support all energy sources without picking winners and losers. There’s a tendency in our national discourse to go all-in on a single source, but we must unleash all energy to meet increasing demand and lower costs for Americans, not only here in Colorado, but across our country.

Colorado has an energy champion in Rep. Evans. To fuel Colorado’s eighth congressional district, we must continue with this all-of-the-above approach, supported by our national leaders. 

Hunter Rivera is the Colorado State Director for the American Conservation Coalition Action. He is based in Weld County and serves as the county’s GOP chair.

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.