On several occasions A Line of Sight has written about the Roan Plateau, the treasure trove for environmentalists that happens to also have enormous natural gas resources locked beneath its surface.

Vincent Carroll, editor of the editorial pages of the Rocky Mountain News takes Congressman John Salazar to task today for his defense of attempting, along with Congressman Mark Udall, to block resource development per the plan already adopted for the Roan. You don’t see the word “hooey” used all that often in journalism, but we have to hand it to Mr. Carroll — it sure fits in this case.

Hoo - ey
1. (used to express disapproval or disbelief): Hooey! You know that’s not true.
–noun
2. silly or worthless talk, writing, ideas, etc.; nonsense; bunk: That’s a lot of hooey and you know it!

Outright hooey
Vincent Carroll, Editor of the Editorial Pages
Rocky Mountain News
August 30, 2007

“As long as natural gas is expensive, clean energy will be much, much cheaper for consumers. Drilling in the Roan Plateau will not save consumers money — it will, however, add to the bottom line for oil and gas company profits.”
-Rep. John Salazar,Rocky Mountain News Speakout, Aug. 29

If Rep. Salazar believes drilling atop the energy rich Roan in western Colorado is a bad idea because of the environmental risk, so be it. It’s a defensible position although one I might dispute.

What is less defensible, though — in fact, is mostly outright hooey — is the claim that boosting natural gas production will have no effect on prices (drilling “will not save consumers money”), and that high-cost natural gas equals cheaper clean alternatives.

If increased natural gas production doesn’t temper prices and save consumers money, why favor any new production anywhere? Why support old production, for that matter, if natural gas is the single commodity on Earth immune to price signals related to supply and demand?

It is true, of course, that when the prices of fossil fuels rise, nonpolluting alternatives become more competitive and attractive. But that is hardly the same as saying they are “much, much cheaper.” They’re the same price as they were but more likely to be used.

They may become cheaper as more investment flows their way and technology improves, but that’s a long, complex process. It hardly justifies the seemingly bald assertion that the high price of natural gas is wonderful news for homeowners paying the bills.