Mesa County (CO) commissioner Rose Pugliese doesn’t believe one size fits all when it comes to government intervention and local control.
Pugliese recently began the public conversation regarding Mesa County being part of the Western and Rural Local Governments Coalition (WRLG), a group of 23 county and municipal governments in western and eastern Colorado that banded together to support strong oil and gas rules while opposing a few of the more onerous rules that the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) adopted in December 2019, in response to Senate Bill 19-181.
According to Pugliese, this is not about choosing the economy over clean air. As a county commissioner, rather it is about a mother raising her young children in Mesa County
She explains how oil and gas development has contributed to Colorado’s diverse and growing economy while conducting development safely and responsibly. Colorado has some of the most stringent environmental regulations and is a national industry leader in health and safety.
“We do not need more rules and regulations that deter the energy industry from doing business in Colorado. We have, and want, local governments to be involved with the energy industry. The energy industry keeps people employed, puts food on the table, and provides good-paying jobs in Mesa County and communities across Colorado. The people who work in the industry are our friends and neighbors. Their children go to our schools, and they support important community activities, like the Mesa County Fair and local 4-H clubs.”
Pugliese also ties in the federal Bureau of Land Management headquarters in Grand Junction, Colorado, which is located within Mesa County. She cites the economic development and opportunities the reliable jobs create, however, there are other advantages as well. One example is the local input on a national scale, something very important to environmentally minded individuals.
The exclusive interview also gives a natural gas update and how that resources gives Mesa County a unique opportunity for the future of energy development and production.
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