Opinion Pieces

Colorado is blessed with vast natural resources that can help power the United States and the world. As global energy demand is expected to double by 2050, Colorado has a huge role to play in President Donald Trump and House Republicans’ American energy dominance agenda.

This week, the Congressional Western Caucus, a group of U.S. representatives dedicated to advocating for rural America and the West, is visiting Colorado Springs to see and hear about the local energy and mining industries. While here, we will be meeting with the people and industries who power the region and supply America with critical minerals. This on-the-ground intelligence gathering is an important part of our representative republic: giving Congress a real-world understanding of local policy issues which also affect other regions of the United States, so we can achieve results benefiting Coloradans and all Americans.

First, we will be touring Colorado Springs Utilities coal and natural gas facilities to see how power is generated and delivered to households and businesses in the region. The caucus has long been a champion of an all-of-the-above energy mix, with the dual focus of generating electricity that is both reliable and affordable. In the United States, natural gas and coal power plants are routinely considered to be among the most reliable generation sources that produce electricity at the lowest costs.

The economic benefits brought by the Colorado Springs Utilities plants are passed on to every energy user every time they flip a light switch or turn on their computer.

Caucus members will also hear from experts with the Colorado Mining Association about the state’s key role in securing America’s mineral supply chain. Colorado’s mining industry accounts for over 57,000 jobs and $7 billion in economic value for the state, with significant production of coal, gold, and uranium. To showcase the sector’s significance, the caucus will tour the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine to see firsthand the operations of one of Colorado’s largest gold mines.

As demand for minerals across the American economy increases in the 21st century, and with Communist China dominating many supply chains, domestic mining projects have grown more important. Reflecting this, in March, Trump signed an executive order to expand American mineral production by simplifying and prioritizing such projects on federal lands. This will bolster mining projects locally, grow rural economies throughout the West, and boost our national security by decreasing our reliance on Beijing for the minerals needed to build everything from coffee makers and smartphones to spacecraft and missiles.

Seeing projects locally and hearing from folks on the ground is critical for members of Congress to better understand the needs of rural Americans. As members of the Western Caucus, we will continue to advocate for policies to achieve American energy and mining dominance and drive growth in the local economies we represent across the nation.