A Republican impeachment inquiry opens tomorrow, so far without firm evidence of impropriety by Joe Biden, experts say.聽That sets this moment apart from previous presidential impeachments.
Yesterday, the sun-baked high plains of Colorado welcomed U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. At a media event, she touted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law鈥檚 $4.7 billion meant to help states plug orphaned oil and gas wells.聽
Colorado, the聽聽in the United States, has hundreds yet to plug.
鈥淢illions of Americans, including many Coloradans, live within just 1 mile of an orphaned oil or gas well,鈥 said Secretary Haaland in Adams County, at a defunct site in a flat field.
鈥淭hese are environmental hazards that jeopardize public health and safety by contaminating groundwater, emitting methane 鈥 which adds to the climate crisis,鈥 she said.
The potential government shutdown has thrown the immediate future of all federal spending into doubt. But the longer-term commitment from all parties seems strong. With Democrat-led Colorado relies on partnership with and revenue from the oil and gas industry to cap these wells. Yet there have been disagreements around the financial commitment of operators, The Colorado Sun. And there are competing visions of the state鈥檚 鈥撀爉uch less the country鈥檚 鈥撀爀nergy future.聽
Still, one trade group leader says he supports plugging and reclaiming these sites based on a shared value. Safety, says Dan Haley, is a 鈥渘onpartisan鈥 issue.
鈥淲e鈥檙e Coloradans at the end of the day,鈥 Mr. Haley, the president and CEO of Colorado Oil & Gas Association, said on a call. 鈥淲e value clean air; we value clean water.鈥澛
Collaboration, after all, is a natural resource, too.