EDITORIAL: Anti-eminent domain activists should help energy producers
“As activists battled a make-believe threat of eminent domain abuse in Colorado Springs, a real and active threat went seemingly unnoticed by the ever-vigilant defenders of property rights. If they’re looking for a fight, we implore them to redirect their passions toward a genuine assault on liberty that stands to deprive Coloradans of income needed for food, shelter and clothing.
The Gazette’s editorial board discussed the dilemma with Gov. John Hickenlooper, who was a guest at Tuesday’s meeting. Hickenlooper, a Democrat, talked about 12 proposed ballot measures that ask voters to curtail oil and gas production through enhanced local control, excessive setbacks and other government-imposed regulations. He has tried in vain to work a compromise among energy producers and those who would quash property rights.
Hickenlooper described a typical conflict in which residential property owners or renters enjoy the view of a neighbor’s vacant lot. The land and minerals beneath it are private property owned by individuals with constitutionally protected rights to make reasonable use of it all. The surface owner can benefit by leasing space for exploration and production. The mineral owner can benefit by extracting and selling fuel.”
The Gazette 21 May 2014.