Are clean coal and natural gas really clean?

Colorado Clean Energy Debate explores natural gas growth, clean coal grants, carbon capture technology, oil and gas rules, sustainability, emissions, and environmental impacts shaping policy, investment, and economic recovery in Colorado's energy sector.

Environmentalists reacted with skepticism to recent support for clean coal and natural gas by Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter and gubernatorial candidate John Hickenlooper.

During remarks before the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, Hickenlooper said if elected governor he would foster creating demand for clean-burning natural gas in an effort to spur Colorado’s energy economy overall.

Ritter congratulated two Colorado companies for winning $14 million in clean coal grants from the U.S. Department of Energy. Littleton-based ADA Environmental Solutions and Boulder-based ION Engineering were among 10 companies nationwide chosen for the awards.

But environmentalists question any push for clean coal and natural gas, arguing that there really is no such thing as clean energy when it comes to non-renewable resources, while renewables often face different budget realities today.

“There are serious and significant impacts to coal mining that we’ll always live with regardless of whether or not we’re able to capture carbon,” said Matt Garrington, with Environment Colorado.

The grants awarded to the two Colorado companies are for technologies in capturing carbon dioxide from coal combustion to cut emissions across power generation.

Ritter said the “cutting-edge technologies are helping to create a cleaner environment for generations to come.”

Garrington doubts achieving sustainability through clean coal, and is critical of assisting the energy industry with developing clean coal technologies.

“We certainly should not be subsidizing the coal industry,” he said. “The coal industry is an established industry with plenty of capital, and they should be making their own investments.”

Meanwhile, Hickenlooper on Wednesday once again questioned new oil and gas rules that have been perceived by the industry to be burdensome amid fossil fuel groups sparring over regulations today. Unlike Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis, Hickenlooper is not in favor of a total re-write of the tough new rules. But Hickenlooper has called aspects of the rules “onerous” and “excessive.”

“Re-writing the rules is an invitation to litigation and state energy battles that fuel polarization,” said Hickenlooper, the Denver mayor who has been voted one of America’s “greenest” mayors. “If I was governor I think you would end up bored by the level of predictability and stability.”

Hickenlooper, who is running for governor on the Democratic primary ticket unopposed after Ritter decided not to run for a second term, also voiced his support for natural gas development.

“Natural gas is abundant in Colorado,” he said. “It’s a critical resource. It’s cleaner. It’s abundant. It’s American. We will not be able to talk about economic recovery without natural gas in the mix.”

Garrington questioned the mayor’s push for natural gas, arguing that the reason Colorado has such tough oil and gas rules is to protect the environment and people from the consequences of exploring for energy such as natural gas.

“We were very happy to hear Hickenlooper support the oil and gas rules in Colorado,” said Garrington. “But regardless of what one feels the energy mix should look like, we know that natural gas has significant impacts to wildlife and water quality, and Colorado’s protections on oil and gas drilling are important to ensure that the industry is held accountable for the pollution that the industry creates.”

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