Oil and Gas Companies Announce Record Profits Again: Communities Rally in Response

Release Date: August 6, 2008
Denver

Contact: Elise Jones Colorado Environmental Coalition 303-885-4273

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Elise Jones speaking at a rally calling for the oil and gas industry to stop putting profits ahead of people. photo © Kurt Kunkle, CEC

Representatives of low-income communities, communities of color, environmental and youth organizations today called on the oil and gas industry to stop putting profits ahead of the people of Colorado.  

In this era of jaw-dropping profits - ExxonMobil announced last week they made $11B in the second quarter of this year - the oil and gas industry is leaving everyday Coloradans behind.  Coloradans are suffering under staggering costs that hurt everyone - from sky high gas prices to budget-busting home heating costs.  

"The oil and gas industry's "Drill more, pay less" message is irresponsible, untrue, and endangers Colorado communities," said Grace Lopez of Mi Familia Vota.  "Oil and gas drilling is way up in Colorado and so are prices, and Latino working families are still hurting," continued Lopez.

"Seventy nine percent of the profits oil and gas companies make from drilling in Colorado leave the state.  Companies take their profits with them and we are left to deal with the impacts on our people, communities and public health," said State Representative Claire Levy. 

"Sky-high prices hit low- and moderate-income folks the hardest," said Linda Medlock of ACORN.  "We've heard recently that there will be up to 70,000 shut offs this year in Colorado.  It is time that oil and gas companies put people ahead of profits."

Elise Jones of the Colorado Environmental Coalition said, "The frenzied pace of oil and gas drilling in Colorado has consequences on everyday Coloradans.  Just in the last few months an outfitter was sickened after drinking benzene-laced water and an emergency room nurse in Durango nearly died after treating an oil field worker doused in an unknown drilling chemical.

"We can't just drill our way out of this problem," continued Jones.  "Drilling is part of the solution, but not all of it, and we need to make sure that drilling is done in a safe, responsible way."

The following groups joined today's call to put people ahead of profits:

• ACORN
• Colorado Conservation Voters
• Colorado Environmental Coalition
• Defenders of Wildlife
• Mi Familia Vota
• New Era Colorado
• Progressive Democrats of America
• ProgressNow