Environmentalists

Xcel Energy, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and a coalition of state lawmakers, energy companies and environmentalists have reached an agreement on legislation that could close some older coal-fired power plants, with replacement by facilities fueled by natural gas and other lower-emitting or nonemitting energy sources.

Xcel Energy, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and a coalition of state lawmakers, energy companies and environmentalists have reached an agreement on legislation that could close some older coal-fired power plants, with replacement by facilities fueled by natural gas and other lower-emitting or nonemitting energy sources.

Pennsylvania environmentalists are pushing back on expedited permitting for gas drilling activity and pushing for a severance tax on the industry, which they said last Wednesday would amount to only a “pinprick on the balance sheets” of exploration and production companies.

Pennsylvania environmentalists are pushing back on expedited permitting for gas drilling activity and pushing for a severance tax on the industry, which they said Wednesday would amount to only a “pinprick on the balance sheets” of exploration and production companies.

The majority of environmentalists, East Coast state representatives and the public told Interior Secretary Ken Salazar at a meeting Monday that they supported renewable energy development — particularly wind development — off their coastline, but opposed opening it up to oil and natural gas drilling. One of the few advocates of expanded oil and gas development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) was former Congressman John Peterson (R-PA).

Threats to the Gulf Coast — hurricanes and coastal erosion among them — have inspired energy industry leaders, environmentalists and conservationists to launch a sustainability initiative to protect the region, which is an energy breadbasket for the nation.

Threats to the Gulf Coast — hurricanes and coastal erosion among them — have inspired energy industry leaders, environmentalists and conservationists to launch a sustainability initiative to protect the region, which is an energy breadbasket for the nation.

Environmentalists and energy industry advocates are generally praising a Roan Plateau plan by Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, who Thursday called on federal officials to compromise in their plans for the northwestern landmark. Ritter wants to increase the federally protected lands around the Roan by 72%, but he also wants natural gas drillers to have access via narrow corridors.

Environmentalists and energy industry advocates are generally praising a Roan Plateau plan by Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, who Thursday called on federal officials to compromise in their plans for the northwestern landmark. Ritter wants to increase the federally protected lands around the Roan by 72%, but he also wants natural gas drillers to have access via narrow corridors.