World Mining Exploration News

Energy hot topic for candidates

Developing new technology in extracting coal and other resources is a key factor in meeting the nation’s energy needs, the four major candidates for Wyoming’s lone congressional seat said Thursday.
Republican candidates Mark Gordon of Buffalo, Cynthia Lummis of Cheyenne, Bill Winney of Bondurant and Democrat Gary Trauner of Wilson attended a forum sponsored by the Wyoming Mining Association. Republican Michael Holland of Green River and Libertarian David Herbert of Cody did not attend.
The candidates are vying for the seat now held by Republican Rep. Barbara Cubin, who is not seeking re-election.
Meeting inside the Jackson Lake Lodge, across from the towering Teton Range inside Grand Teton National Park, the candidates addressed a packed room of miners and industry representatives.
Soaring prices for fuel to run vehicles and heat homes and climate change have become major issues for debate on the national political scene, especially for energy-producing states like Wyoming.
Trauner, a businessman, emphasized the need for innovation and for the free market to help solve the nation’s energy woes and address environmental concerns.
“If the rest of the world is moving on, and we’re standing still, that’s not a good thing for us,” he said.
Lummis, a rancher and former state treasurer, said the United States must use new technology to tap its own re-sources. She said Wyoming has all the resources to help meet the country’s energy needs.
“Our dependence on foreign sources is unconscionable when we have this much ability to produce in the ground,” she said.
Winney, a retired naval officer, said new technology will help recover resources that can’t be extracted now. But he said the federal government needs to stop placing hurdles in the way of the industry.
“If we can get stuff out of your way, you can do more for this nation; you can keep this nation strong,” he said.
Gordon, a rancher, said conflicts among energy companies, environmental groups and political parties must be solved.
“This is an era where we have resource conflicts that we are going to have to take a serious look at, not just environmental conflicts, but how we develop the resource we have,” he said.
Trauner and Gordon said some sort of cap-and-trade legislation to limit greenhouse emissions is inevitable. Trauner said clear rules must be developed for industry to follow, while Winney and Lummis said there must be new technology before any such system could be implemented. Gordon said any such system must not place too much cost on the consumer and producer.
Marion Loomis, Wyoming Mining Association executive director, said all the candidates seem to recognize the state’s importance in energy issues. He said he hopes whoever is elected will be an advocate for continued energy development.