A week of delving into in-depth coverage of energy issues at the was interrupted by where an unexpected special legislative session was called.
But I did get a chance to pop by the Colorado Convention Center early this morning where it was quickly apparent the Obama Administration鈥檚 Energy Sec. Steven Chu and other forum speakers were coincidentally sharing the venue with a concurring conference focusing on unconventional oils and tar sands.
The irony wasn鈥檛 lost on some of the clean energy industry鈥檚 most influential executives like Santiago Seage, CEO of Spain鈥檚 who gave this morning鈥檚 opening keynote.
鈥淩enewable energy is even more important in this new world,鈥� Seage said to laughter in the audience. 鈥淚 said fracking.鈥�
Of course it鈥檚 hard to tell without listening, but Seage wasn鈥檛 always so deadpan during his roughly thirty minute speech. But he did focus much of his power point on natural gas. It鈥檚 clear that companies like his see new technologies leading to the boom of the drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing as a clear threat.
After all, until recently, there has been quite a burgeoning societal movement toward renewable fuels.
Think Colorado鈥檚 branded under former Governor Bill Ritter. But now there鈥檚 along the Front Range that鈥檚 mostly been embraced by Governor John Hickenlooper.
For his part, Santiago Seage sees natural gas only as a bridge fuel as the globe transitions to renewables.
鈥淲hen we talk about shale gas, we are still at the phase probably similar to the Gold Rush in the West,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t this point in time it鈥檚 very easy to go and drill and frack, all of the environmental concerns as you know are not properly taken care of in most states.鈥�
In Colorado, that . But most people in the natural gas and clean energy sectors do agree that the two fuels are starting to become cost competitive.
Among said folk is Energy Sec. Chu, who followed Seage on the stage at the Wells Fargo Theater.
鈥淚f you think of a wind project or a solar project or any other renewable, what鈥檚 the cost of the fuel? Free, the sun is free, the wind is free,鈥� Chu told the crowd. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the cost of the equipment and the installation.鈥�
Chu said the pool of investors needs to be expanded to overcome those capitol costs 鈥� something the government can help with. Though in the fallout of the Solyndra Solar scandal, he acknowledged the obvious political obstacles.
Listen at the link below to hear a brief exchange on the Solyndra scandal Chu had in response to an audience member鈥檚 questions.
http://cpa.ds.npr.org/kunc/audio/2012/05/Steven-Chu_on_Solyndra_web05162012.mp3
Meanwhile, the issue of price parity for clean energy and natural gas and associated fracking is no doubt a delicate political balancing act for the Energy Secretary. The Obama Administration has sought to ramp up natural gas drilling and production in the West. But the President has also pushed to open large-scale wind and solar projects on western public lands too.
Chu wrapped up his official remarks today by saying that he thinks renewable energy is close to not needing a subsidy. He also added that natural gas, in his words, doesn鈥檛 need any subsidies.
鈥淚f the cost of finance were as low as the cost of financing a natural gas plant, we鈥檇 be even that much closer,鈥� Chu said.
After his address, Chu then toured the vast expo hall at the forum, and briefly addressed reporters, calling on Congress to extend the stalled wind energy production tax credit set to expire at the end of the year.
"Renewable energy representatives from across the country are gathered in Denver this week because Colorado is helping to lead the way in clean energy. The state is among the leaders in installed solar capacity. It has had a renewable portfolio standard in place for many years. And it鈥檚 a hub for clean energy manufacturers from GE to Vestas. America can鈥檛 afford to miss out on the clean energy opportunity."
You can read the Secretary's full, prepared remarks .
The World Renewable Energy Forum, sponsored by the Boulder-based , runs through Friday in Denver.
