Midterm elections will be held in November, providing both a preview of the 2016 elections as well as an opportunity for control of the national agenda.<\/p>\n
The 2014 midterm elections will be held in November, and all 435 voting seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, 36 out of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate, and 36 of 50 governorships will be contested.\u00a0 These elections will provide a preview of the 2016 elections, and will also help determine control of the national agenda.\u00a0 A number of Western states will play a major role in politics this year, and the key issues of conservation and energy production could heavily determine election results in those states.<\/p>\n
According to the latest Western Governors Association Report<\/a>, \u201c\u2026from conventional fuels to renewable energy, the West\u2019s resources provide the majority of the United States\u2019 energy supply.\u00a0 The West produces more than half of the total amount of coal produced in the U.S., it provides nearly 70 percent of the nation\u2019s natural gas, and its petroleum production is more than 90 percent of state-level production.\u00a0 In addition, the High Plains and Rocky Mountains include the nation\u2019s largest areas of high-value wind power resources, while California leads the nation in installed solar-generation capacity.\u00a0 Geothermal power is produced almost exclusively in the West.\u00a0 Of the ten states expected to see the fastest job growth in 2014, seven are in the West.<\/p>\n In trying to determine which key issues could sway voters this November, a poll conducted recently by the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project Conservation in the West<\/a> \u201cexplored voter attitudes in six Western states.\u201d\u00a0 A total of 2,400 registered voters in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Arizona were polled on issues such as land and water use, air quality, governance of conservation, oil and gas development, and public lands\u2019 impact on the economy.<\/p>\n Results from the poll<\/a> indicate that energy production and protecting public and private lands are the two key \u201cvote motivating\u201d issues and \u201cthat voters are far more likely to show support for candidates who seek to protect natural areas and public lands while proceeding with energy development.\u201d\u00a0 Energy development, particularly hydraulic fracturing (\u201cfracking\u201d), has come under intense review in parts of the West, especially Colorado.<\/p>\n Respondents in the poll also made it clear that they are more likely to vote for a candidate who would promote alternative or renewable energy.\u00a0 This view extended across party lines.\u00a0 However, when asked whether or not they would support reducing \u201cred tape\u201d associated with oil and gas development, there was a clear division along party lines.\u00a0 Republicans were found to be more likely (73%) to favor a reduction of red tape whereas Democrats were less likely (33%).<\/p>\n Although Westerners are diverse politically, which was reflected in many of their choices, one area they stand united on is their love for the land.\u00a0 \u201cMore than half say that environmentally sensitive places on public lands should be permanently protected when energy production is allowed.\u201d<\/p>\n This sentiment was reflected by a majority of voters favoring Master Leasing Plans (MLPs)<\/a> in regards to oil and gas drilling.\u00a0 The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for balancing oil and gas drilling as well as the protection of millions of acres of public lands and the fish and wildlife on those lands throughout the West.\u00a0 In areas where there could be disputes \u201cover the best use of the land,\u201d the BLM is implementing a new tool called a Master Leasing Plan.\u00a0 Before any drilling could be considered, an MLP would need to be designed to delineate areas \u201cappropriate for oil and gas drilling and also create protections where needed for wildlife, water, and historic sites.\u201d\u00a0 Local businesses and governments, the public, and oil and gas companies would all be given opportunity to provide input on each MLP.\u00a0 A significant majority (62 to 67 percent) of all voters in all six states support MLPs, including Tea Party supporters.<\/a><\/p>\n The November midterm elections will be critical to the 2016 elections.\u00a0 In the West, the key issues appear to be energy development and production and environmental protection and conservation.<\/p>\n \u201cCongressional candidates would be wise to consider their position on conservation and land-use issues carefully,\u201d said Colorado College Economist and State of the Rockies Project Director Walter E. Hecox.\u00a0 \u201cWesterners want their air, water, and land protected, and where a candidate stands on these issues could potentially sway votes.\u201d<\/p>\n