David Jenkins, Guest Commentary As a lifelong conservative who has spent decades working on energy-related issues, including serving as a campaign surrogate on energy for John McCain’s 2008 presidential run, I recall that our ethos on energy has been solidly rooted in the catch-phrase “All of the Above.” That phrase is in keeping with a genuinely conservative belief in the free market and its ability to drive investment to the smartest and most cost-effective energy technologies. Not only is that approach naturally suited to keeping our energy costs low, it also can best ensure that America leads in the global race to dominate future energy markets. So, why on earth have so many Arizona elected officials suddenly abandoned the All of the Above approach in favor of whacky, hairbrained energy cancel-culture? And how ironic is it that the energy source being cancelled in the sunniest state in the union is solar? Read the rest of the op-ed at the Arizona Capitol...
Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship President David Jenkins examines the “drill, baby, drill” slogan and why it doesn’t fully reflect today’s energy and economic realities. While often used to argue for expanded fossil fuel production, the issue is more complex, shaped by global markets, infrastructure limits, and changing energy demand. The op-ed also highlights the growing role of cleaner, competitive energy sources and why long-term energy security requires practical, forward-looking solutions rather than slogans. Read more here:...
Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship is featured in a Kiowa County Press report examining concerns over a proposed rollback of federal oil and gas bonding rules managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The article explains that current bonding requirements are meant to ensure energy companies set aside enough money to properly plug wells and restore drilling sites once production ends. Without strong bonding rules, cleanup costs from abandoned or “orphaned” wells can fall to taxpayers instead of industry. CRS raises concerns that weakening these requirements could significantly increase public liability for cleanup, with estimates in the report suggesting potential taxpayer exposure in the hundreds of billions over time. The coverage highlights ongoing debate over how to balance energy development on public lands with long-term environmental and financial responsibility. Read the full article here:...
By David Jenkins, President of Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship There’s nothing remotely conservative about Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’s plan to do away with the 25-year-old Roadless Rule that protects America’s most ancient stands of forest. Not only will the proposed rollback undermine our natural wealth and betray common sense conservation, it would be a fiscal nightmare. Opening up new remote areas to expensive road building is the last thing the U.S. Forest Service needs. The harsh reality is that the agency doesn’t have the budget to take care of the 368,000 miles of roads already on our national forests. It’s in a deep road maintenance backlog hole. Just to fix all of the Forest Service’s existing roads will cost taxpayers an additional $10.8 billion. Read the rest of the op-ed at Richard Viguerie’s Conservative...
Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship is featured in a report from Aspen Public Radio covering concerns about a proposed federal policy change involving oil and gas development on public lands. The piece focuses on a proposed rollback of a Bureau of Land Management rule that requires energy companies to set aside funds to properly clean up wells and restore drilling sites after production ends. CRS warns that weakening those requirements could shift significant cleanup costs onto taxpayers, with potential liabilities reaching into the billions. The discussion highlights a broader issue in public lands management: ensuring companies, rather than taxpayers, are responsible for plugging abandoned wells and restoring impacted land. Read the full article here:...
