American Oil and Gas Reporter - December 2015 - 91

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ConventionCoverage: Colorado Oil & Gas Association
said. Immediately visible was the Nov.
16 launch of a redesigned COGA website
that Haley described as "cleaner, with
easier to find information, best practices,
and association news."
COGA staff will continue to produce
regular audio "podcasts" under the banner,
"What Turns You On." Initiated during
this year's Rocky Mountain Energy Summit, the podcasts provide insights from
industry leaders, political figures and
technology experts, Haley said.
The podcasts are an example of the
different avenues COGA is taking to
reach today's audiences with news and
information. "The media landscape is
changing," Haley said. "We no longer
rely on traditional news media to get out
our story. We can tell our story in innovative ways using tools that didn't exist
a few years ago."
The association is renewing its focus
on education, Haley noted. In addition to
its successful "EnGen" and Ambassador
courses, he said COGA would introduce
an interactive program aimed at elected
leaders from the statehouse to city halls
to county courthouses.
"We want to ensure those who are
making decisions that affect our livelihoods
have access to the latest information on
news, technology and science. We will
provide them with access to industry leaders, rig tours, and easy to digest information
about our industry," Haley said.

International Update
As the world's attention remains focused on developments in the Middle
East, it is important for Americans to
better understand the complex and historical relationships of its governments
and people, former Ambassador Christopher Hill told COGA.
Addressing the meeting as keynote
speaker, Hill described the continuing
struggle among many nations in the
Middle East as essentially between democracy and authoritarianism.
"The fault lines run very deep in that
part of the world," Hill characterized.
"This sectarian divide influences nations
at every level. And while no one knows
when it will come to an end, we must
understand this divide if we are to have
any influence at all."
Hill, who served as U.S. ambassador
to Macedonia, Poland, South Korea and
Iraq, said globalization was a reality for
the oil and gas industry. "We must drill
deeper in our understanding of these rea-

Innovative approaches to
challenges and transparent
engagement with stakeholders are among the hallmarks
of his tenure as chairman
that Brad Holly, vice president
of operations for the Rocky
Mountain Region at Anadarko Petroleum, pledged
during the Colorado Oil &
Gas Association's annual
meeting, Nov. 11 in Denver.

sons if we want to know what we are up
against," Hill said. "New energy technology such as fracturing is beginning to
have an impact on how America regards
some of these countries and, consequently,
the degree to which we will be involved
politically and militarily."
Despite the seemingly intractable differences and geopolitical minefields,
America must remain engaged in places
such as the Middle East, Korea and China,
Hill declared.
"Nothing represents the spirit of America better than its oil and gas industry,"
he reflected. "The innovation and risktaking of this industry is like no other,
and I applaud you for what you do."
Looking Ahead
Closer to home, COGA was scheduled
to present oral arguments opposing local

Even while it fights local bans and moratoria in court, COGA will continue to engage with local communities to explain
"the toughest rules in the country," which
protect Colorado's air and water, President Dan Haley assures members during
the Colorado Oil & Gas Association's
annual meeting, Nov. 11 in Denver.

bans and moratoria before the state
Supreme Court at a hearing Dec. 9. "We
are confident the Supreme Court will
rule that these bans and moratoria are
unconstitutional, and allow us to go back
to work developing the resources America
needs," said Haley.
COGA filed lawsuits in 2013 and
2014 against four of five local governments
that approved bans on oil and gas development, he recalled. In three of the four
cases, state courts ruled in the association's
favor with the subsequent appeals sent
to the Supreme Court in August (AOGR,
September 2015. pg. 16).
Haley said such actions showed why
the industry must stay engaged with local
communities. "It is as important as ever
for people to know all the ways we improve the health, safety and wellbeing of
our employees and surrounding neighbors," he said. "Let them know that we
operate under the toughest rules in the
country, and that their air and water are
protected."
With the market slowdown affecting
member companies, Haley advised that
COGA planned to reduce spending while
maintaining member services, education
programs, and political engagement.
He said he was aware of at least two
opposition groups in Colorado preparing
ballot initiatives for the 2016 election.
"One wants a statewide fracturing ban and
the other wants to give local government
the ability to ban anything and everything.
I am sure our business coalition will stand
up to that, if it comes to it," he said.
"Even if both initiatives find their
way to the ballot, our strategy will not
change," Haley insisted. "We will be in
our communities, engaging with neighbors
and making sure everyone is talking and
everyone is at the table."
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DECEMBER 2015 91

American Oil and Gas Reporter - December 2015

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