American Oil and Gas Reporter - December 2016 - 84

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84 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

man's role, his vision for COGA was to
"do a few things very well."
"I saw it as critical that we have a
positive influence on state policy," Holly
reflected. "For the fifth session in the
legislature, there were no negative oil
and gas bills passed."
COGA ramped up its efforts to connect
with other trade groups this year, which
"paid dividends," Holly said.
Community outreach also was a priority, he continued. "We held more than
700 stakeholder meetings, and that helped
keep local rules aligned with the state's.
We kept anti-industry measures off the
ballot, the state Supreme Court ruled in
our favor on the local regulation lawsuit,
and this year's Rocky Mountain Energy
Summit was the best yet."
Incoming COGA Chairman John
Mummery, area manager for BP America
in Durango, Co., recognized the time and
effort Holly and COGA's staff invested
this year to protect and promote the industry's interests. He added that his experience told him that every year presented
new challenges and opportunities.
"In my first trip to downtown Denver
as a young engineer in 1984, I could not
imagine how successful and important
our industry would become in this state,"
he recalled.
"We must continue to engage with
the public," Mummery said. "We have to
be part of the solution if we are to ensure
oil and gas operations continue in an
economically viable way. We can provide
a unified voice for industry that demonstrates how we provide clean energy
while operating with respect for our communities and the environment."
COGA, he said, "has a rich history in
this state as the trusted, go-to organization
for legislators, local officials and the public.
I will work hard to maintain that trust."

Remaining Alert
In his review of the past year as
COGA's chief executive, Haley cited the
mostly successful outcome of the rulemaking session that followed the Governor's Task Force on Oil & Gas, which
was appointed to enhance the role of
local governments regarding energy development in their communities.
Although the rule making resulted in
revisions to operator notification rules that
COGA saw as "exceeding the task force's
recommendations," Haley said, "COGA
remains committed to working with operators, communities, and the state to see
the rules are implemented effectively."
In the year since COGA's 2015 annual
meeting, Haley observed that while the
industry had continued to endure low
prices, it won a favorable ruling on local
fracturing bans from the Colorado
Supreme Court, and fought off two antiindustry ballot initiatives.
"Just another day for Colorado's oil
and gas industry," Haley quipped. "As we
chart our course for next year, we will stay
engaged with citizens and elected leaders.
We will remain alert for whatever the opposition throws our way and respond, because we have seen again and again that
the people of Colorado believe in you."
Haley cited the association's and industry's success connecting with communities around the state through outreach,
education, paid advertising, and even attending county fairs. "Now is the time to
double down on what works," he said.
"COGA's mission is simple," Haley
stated. "If we are doing our job, our
members can do their jobs. Our companies
benefit society by providing the products
we use every day at prices that are affordable. This keeps our country secure
and makes all our lives better."
r

New COGA Outreach Program
Targets State, Local Officials
DENVER-The Colorado Oil & Gas
Association has launched an information
and education outreach program aimed
at state and local elected officials in an
effort to improve understanding of the
industry at the level where much regulatory
policy is formed, the association says.
The Leadership, Education, and Development (LEAD) program is intended to
provide political leaders, their staffs and
others involved in oil and gas policy with
"access to the latest information, studies
and news about the industry," COGA reports.
Participants will have opportunities to go

on rig tours, visit industry facilities, and
meet "some of the 34,000 men and women
of Colorado's oil and gas industry."
LEAD will enhance many of the association's activities, including its seminars
such as Oil & Gas 101; Regulations,
Economics and Taxes; and other relevant
topics.
The program also will increase communications from COGA with newsletters,
targeted e-mails, online postings and news
releases, access to scientific research,
and industry forums, the association says.
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American Oil and Gas Reporter - December 2016

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