Enviros Call Out Hickenlooper's "Misleading" COGA Ad

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by: Colorado Pols

Can’t see the audio player? Click here.

A short while ago, a coalition of state environmental groups, including Colorado Conservation Voters, the Colorado Environmental Coalition, and EarthJustice, sent out a release strongly criticizing Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper’s recent radio ad on behalf of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association–click above for audio–in defense of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”). It’s been a long time coming, but we’re pretty sure this marks the first direct attack on Hickenlooper from his left flank–after a number of incidents that arguably merited such a response.

“We are disappointed that the Governor lent his voice to a trade association advertisement that fails to tell the full story and leaves Coloradans with a false sense of security when it comes to groundwater contamination,” said Elise Jones, executive director of Colorado Environmental Coalition. “The unmistakable takeaway message from the ad is ‘don’t worry, everything is ok’ when it comes to water and oil and gas exploration. That is not the case. There are numerous documented cases of groundwater contamination since 2008. We should all be able to agree that there is more to be done to protect our air, land, and water from drilling.”

Since 2008, numerous instances of groundwater contamination have resulted from releases of chemicals such as petroleum liquids and produced water used and generated during drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Accidental spills, corroded tanks and pipelines, and leaking containment pits have been implicated in numerous releases of toxic fluids, including carcinogenic hydrocarbons such as benzene. The Colorado oil and gas commission’s own report, issued earlier this month, makes clear that contamination of groundwater remains an ongoing issue with oil and gas development. Similarly, a Denver Post analysis of state records for 2011 found 58 cases of groundwater pollution linked to spills and releases. Another Denver Post analysis of spill accidents dating backing to 2008 found an even greater number of groundwater incidents…

Full text after the jump–after a year of honeymoon, could this mark a new chapter in relations between Colorado’s “post-partisan” governor and his at-least technically Democratic base?

Hickenlooper lends voice to misleading oil and gas ad

Groups call on governor to set record straight on how drilling threatens Colorado’s water

Today, thirteen conservation groups delivered a letter to Gov. Hickenlooper expressing dismay over his claim in an oil and gas industry radio ad that “we have not had one instance of groundwater contamination associated with drilling and hydraulic fracturing” since the overhaul of the state’s oil and gas protections in 2008. In fact, there have been dozens of cases of groundwater contamination from oil and gas activity since 2008. The ad is sponsored by the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, the industry’s main trade group.

“Gov. Hickenlooper did the right thing last fall in leading the effort to bring transparency to industry’s use of fracking chemicals,” said Pete Maysmith, executive director of Colorado Conservation Voters. “He understood that full disclosure will allow us to make smart decisions about how to protect our world class environment when oil and gas drilling occurs. Given his support of transparency and full disclosure, it was particularly dismaying to hear such a misleading ad on the air. The good news is that the governor is a ‘fix-it’ leader. We urge him to get the misleading ad withdrawn and to redouble his commitment to protecting Colorado’s water resources and communities.”

“It’s simply inaccurate to state that oil and gas drilling isn’t contaminating ground water in Colorado,” said Mike Freeman, staff attorney at Earthjustice. “The state’s own records show that spills and releases routinely affect ground water. Statements like those in the COGA ad will only hurt the state’s efforts to show it is responsive to legitimate concerns about and gas development in Colorado communities.”

23 thoughts on “Enviros Call Out Hickenlooper’s “Misleading” COGA Ad”

nancycronk says:

February 28, 2012 at 2:40 am

we were just starting to like Hickenlooper again.

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1. sxp151 says:
  
  February 28, 2012 at 4:54 am
  
  and I haven’t found even ONE thing he’s done that I could support. Truly a horrible, horrible governor.
  
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2. Ralphie says:
  
  February 28, 2012 at 4:58 am
  
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  1. GalapagoLarry says:
    
    February 28, 2012 at 7:07 am
    
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3. Konola says:
  
  February 28, 2012 at 6:31 pm
  
  I’ve been simmering since he refused to support the initiative that would’ve plowed more money into Colorado schools. Now he is misinforming the public about the safety record of the oil and gas industry. I think it is time for a primary challenger.
  
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4. Konola says:
  
  February 28, 2012 at 6:41 pm
  
  I’ve been simmering ever since Hick refused to support the initiative to get more money into Colorado schools. With his latest bogus public service announcement about the absolute safety of the oil and gas industry, I’m thinking it is time for somebody to challenge him in a primary when he’s up for reelection.
  
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  1. Konola says:
    
    February 28, 2012 at 6:44 pm
    
    Sorry about the duplicate posts. My computer is slow today, and it looked as though the first post didn’t make it.
    
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Gilpin Guy says:

February 28, 2012 at 3:11 am

having him be the pitchman for the Oil & Gas lobby.

Was it his Democratic staff or did he take the bull by the horns and decide to use some of his political capital shilling for his ex-industry?

It would be interesting to know how he got recruited to do those commercials. I’m guessing it was his values driven agenda.

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1. DavidThi808 says:
  
  February 28, 2012 at 3:23 am
  
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ArapaGOP says:

February 28, 2012 at 3:51 am

Poor Gov. Hickenlooper has run afoul of the socialist green mafia.

I’m delighted! The good governor is a practical man, and must choose between the people who build the economy and the those who burn the ski lodges down. As a businessman, he made the right choice.

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1. RedGreen says:
  
  February 28, 2012 at 4:49 am
  
  Between building the economy and burning down ski lodges.
  
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2. Ralphie says:
  
  February 28, 2012 at 5:00 am
  
  I’m disappointed.
  
  I’m assuming you’re going to vote for Hick in the next election.
  
  No? No orders to do so? Bummer.
  
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3. Gilpin Guy says:
  
  February 28, 2012 at 4:47 pm
  
  until the flames scorch your forked tongue.
  
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  1. Konola says:
    
    February 28, 2012 at 6:42 pm
    
    May you drink fracking water until the flames scorch your forked tongue. LOVE IT!
    
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4. ClubTwitty says:
  
  February 28, 2012 at 8:26 pm
  
  Did you mean he has to choose between poor farmers and a foreign multinational that dumped a bazillion gallons of crude into the Gulf? Or maybe between a town concerned about its water supply and energy companies busted for rigging bids to steal from the US taxpayer?
  
  See how stupid idiotic binary posts work?
  
  How’s this–the Governor shouldn’t fib about the real impacts of this industry as documented by his own department? That would be a start.
  
  PS-Poor Mittens. No love. Not even from all his NASCAR-team owning friends…
  
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DanleySteel says:

February 28, 2012 at 7:34 am

The left should have been hitting him with calls to show some leadership since day one.

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

He’s much better cover on a lot of issues than a Repub would be, because ostensibly he’s a Dem. So he’s potentially much more dangerous than a GOP gov would be, because of the possibility of unilateral disarmament.

Ultimately, friend or enemy–give no quarter. I don’t understand why the enviros weren’t hitting him from day one to show leadership. There’s no shortage of places where he could have done so.

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1. dukeco1 says:
  
  February 28, 2012 at 7:58 am
  
  When he chose the Halliburton toady to replace Tresi, the writing appeared on the wall.
  
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  1. Middle of the Road says:
    
    February 28, 2012 at 6:02 pm
    
    I remember being nervous in January 2010 about where he was heading when it came to regulation and writing about his somewhat passive/aggressive messaging, specifically addressing O&G regulations.
    
    A whole bunch of us have been anxious about this for quite some time. I know you have.
    
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2. sxp151 says:
  
  February 28, 2012 at 10:30 am
  
  It’s really silly to blame Hickenlooper’s atrociousness on “the left,” especially since several of us lefties have been criticizing him here while you were elsewhere.
  
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G Pulviczek says:

February 28, 2012 at 9:53 am

Once upon a time, a former oilman and an enviro lived in an uneasy truce with each other. One day, a rising right-wing tide threatened both. “Carry me on your back!” said the oilman. “I can help us both reach that social justice tree branch that is just out of reach!”

The enviro was wary, though. “How do I know you won’t sell me out to O&G interests?”

“Trust me,” said the oilman. “We’re all in this together.”

So the enviro lifted the former oilman onto his back. After only a short delay, the oilman jumped up onto the enviro’s head, and shouted, “I can see O&G helicopters coming! They’re bringing cash! Oh, save me, save me!”

Unfortunately for the enviro, Hick’s, err, the oilman’s boots pushed his head below the waves. With his last breath he cried, “Why are you doing this? When I drown, you will not be able to reach the branch or the helicopters!”

To which the oilman replied, “We both knew my nature when we got into this.”

Whereupon both the enviro and the oilman disappeared below the reactionary waves.

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1. Progressive Promoter says:
  
  February 28, 2012 at 7:17 pm
  
  But yuck.
  
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The realist says:

February 28, 2012 at 7:54 pm

speak up on this. What do we know about the Governor’s temperament that might predict his reaction to the challenge?

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1. dukeco1 says:
  
  February 29, 2012 at 6:39 am
  
  this is due primarily to Hicks’ connection to his wealthy O&G friends and his ignorance about the people who live in the gas patch.
  
  Hick needs to visit some of the victims of this “invasive industry” like his predecessor did.
  
  Hick really needs to get the message loud and clear about how Coloradoans feel about clean and safe water. Heads up, Mr.Governor…want a second term? Re-examine your priorities.
  
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