GOP elimination of ‘Energy’ committee blasted by CCV director

Colorado’s conservation community reacted with predictable disappointment to a decision by incoming Republican state House leadership to do away with the energy part of the House Transportation and Energy Committee.

“Colorado is Energy Country,” Colorado Conservation Voters Executive Director Pete Maysmith said in a prepared statement. “We mine coal, extract natural gas, build wind turbines and have put tens of thousands of people to work installing solar panels on homes and businesses across the state. From the West Slope to the Eastern Plains, energy is a part of our DNA and affects our everyday lives.”

More from the release:

“Given the stated commitment by new House leadership to creating jobs and building our economy, it comes as a surprise and a disappointment that Speaker Designee [Frank] McNulty [R-Highlands Ranch] has eliminated Energy from the Transportation and Energy Committee.

“Coloradans across the political spectrum agree — how we produce and consume energy is one of the most critical challenges facing our state and our country. Whether by supporting Amendment 37 [establishing 10 percent renewable energy standard] in 2004 or electing legislative candidates in tight races who pledged to bring clean tech jobs to the state, Coloradans have made it clear that continuing to build our clean energy economy is part of what they want their legislature to tackle when they get back to work in January.”

Meanwhile, Congressional Republican leadership candidates in Washington are being dissected for a host of positions that fly in the face of established climate science.

They haven’t yet moved to do away with the “Energy” component of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

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