C.A.R.E.

Affordable

Energy affordability and cost containment is essential and underpins the final costs of all consumer goods and services. Natural gas is especially critical as it not only provides fuel for homes, businesses, and power generation facilities, it is a critical feedstock for plastics and fertilizers that are essential for modern life. Although the capital costs associated with solar and wind power production are falling, natural gas remains the most affordable (5, p. 1). Natural gas also remains among the most cost-competitive energy sources even when compared to sources like solar, wind, and geothermal which are heavily subsidized by taxpayer dollars (8, p. 4, 7). The fungibility of natural gas and broad, existing infrastructure also results in a competitive market – a positive force for maintaining affordability for end consumers, businesses, and infrastructure.

Ethical

Laramie Energy’s core values are integrity and to operate with the highest standards of ethics. The fuel and power we rely on will always have a source. Locally sourced energy drives local investment and employment opportunities across a wide spectrum of skills and expertise. Oil and gas workers have a direct interest in producing energy efficiently and in a clean manner to preserve and maintain the environments they enjoy for hunting, fishing, hiking, river rafting, mountaineering, and more. Relative to other US states, Colorado has extremely low levels of methane flaring and venting which is due to implementation of a broad range of technologies and best management practices (4, p. 1).

In addition to air quality, land and materials use are also key factors to consider when comparing energy sources. One acre of land used for wind power generation produces enough power for 0.17 homes, while the same acre used for solar power generation produces enough energy for 1.21 homes. One acre of land used for natural gas power generation produces enough energy for 181 homes – a dramatic increase in physical power density (3, p. 28). The materials required to build machinery associated with wind, solar, and natural gas follow a similar pattern: approximately 10 tons/terawatt-hour (TWh) for wind equipment, 16 tons/TWh for solar, and 1 ton/TWh for natural gas equipment (3, p. 28).

Energy availability and demand also correlate with population mortality rates attributed to environmental risks and air pollution. According to research presented by Liberty Energy utilizing World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), countries like the US with high overall energy demand per capita along with highest relative shares of oil and natural gas demand per capita observed among the lowest mortality rates attributed to environmental risks and air pollution (3, p. 32-33).

Where we source energy and the materials for energy generation is a critical part of delivering ethical energy. This includes looking beyond US borders to the beginning of the materials supply chain (6, p. 1 and 7, p. 5). Tragically, many supply chains for solar panels and batteries for electric vehicles run through countries with dominant global market shares such as China and the D.R.C which have wide-spread and well-documented evidence of using child and forced labor to drive down costs and increase production.