The benefits of shale development will to be a hot topic when the Colorado state legislative session convenes in January, as legislative leaders have just announced that they’ve have formed a new committee solely focused on “energy and environmental issues facing Colorado.”

As a press release announcing the committee points out, the move comes in anticipation of expected policy changes in due to the results of the election. State-Sen. Ray Scott said:

“Colorado’s already well known for our passionate interest in all issues related to energy and the environment, so this seems like a logical response to the growing demand we see for more study, deeper discussion and innovative policy ideas,” said Scott. “The changes in attitude and approach we’re expecting from the Trump administration will only add to the importance and relevance of the work this select committee will do.”

Another member of the committee, state-Sen. John Cooke, who represents Colorado’s top energy producing county, touted the importance of energy development to the state’s economy as an example of why legislative leaders saw the need for a new committee to examine energy issues in greater detail:

“Energy is one of the two or three top economic engines driving Colorado’s economy, so we must find a way to support those jobs and revenues while also protecting the natural places that make Colorado special,” added Senator Cooke.

The state’s leading Democrats and Republicans have long-recognized the importance of energy development. Colorado’s Democrat governor, John Hickenlooper has been a stalwart supporter of oil and natural gas development, and a leader against ballot initiatives aimed at driving fracking out of the state. And Colorado’s bipartisan support for fracking also ...