Gov. Hickenlooper and his fracking friends routinely exaggerate the economic importance of oil and gas. Such mendacity is the industry norm. They tout “impact studies,” like that produced at CU, counting not just “direct” jobs like drilling, separating, compressing and storing product, and disposing drilling wastes. These studies also lump a slew of so-called “indirect” and “induced” jobs into the mix.
Indirect jobs include suppliers of goods and services for drilling and downstream jobs like those at refineries. Induced jobs result when industry workers spend earned income on things like rent and groceries. The numbers vary widely with the assumptions used to define and count such “off site” jobs. The reality is fracking itself accounts for about one percent of jobs in Colorado, at the bottom of the job creation hierarchy.
It is also true that indirect and induced jobs result from other economic activities. Like gas and oil extraction, upstream jobs supply materials and technologies for wind turbines and solar installations. Wind and solar workers also pay rent and buy groceries. Downstream jobs are created when electricity is transmitted to homes and businesses.


Good news is renewable technologies create three times more direct jobs for each dollar invested than does fossil fuel extraction.
Renewable energy jobs by nature are long term. Whereas oil and gas jobs run dry: Boom and bust. Ever wonder what Weld County might be like 15 years from now with as many as 50,000 dry wells? There might be a few jobs left, cleaning up land and water polluted by toxic waste, providing social services to unemployed workers and tending to residents sickened by emissions and tainted wells.
So when Hickenlooper and his oily buddies cry, “Jobs,” remember there are many more, safer, longer lasting and cleaner, greener alternatives. Renewables “Yes.” Fracking “No.”
Ken Bonetti