Romney talks energy in rural Colorado

The presumptive republican presidential nominee stopped in rural Colorado Tuesday.

Mitt Romney was in Craig, talking energy with a community that depends on it.

Pat Sollars is a coal worker with Peabody Energy. He says, "It’s important that our nation understands how vital that resources is to our country."

For coal communities, like Craig, just about everything revolves around energy.

"Mining of coal, burning of coal, making of electricity, it's the backbone of our community," Sollars said.

Three coal mines surround the rural city, and some put work on hold so hundreds of employees could hear the presidential candidate talk about their industry.

"I would like to hear that his platform supports energy security, it supports economic growth, also environmental solutions," Sollars said.

"We care about what's happening in Craig, we care about what’s happening in rural America, we care about what’s happening in Middle America,” Mitt Romney said. “We want to bring people the help that they need today."

Many living in Moffat County say where it needs help is with relaxing energy restrictions.

They argue current EPA regulations are too strict, something Romney blames on President Obama.

"He’s made it harder to get coal out of the ground, he's made it harder to get natural gas out of the ground, and he's made it harder to get oil out of the ground," Romney says.

But Romney promises if elected he'll make it easier.

"I want energy above and below the ground,” he said. “I want coal, gas, oil, as well as nuclear and renewable."

The republican says our economy is nothing but the collection of all our nation's businesses.

"I want government that's an ally to business, not an enemy of business," Romney said. That platform resonates with the conservative community that's economy relies on the energy industry.

Craig Mayor Terry Carwile says, "He would walk away with a victory here without question. For him to come here anyway to small community is certainly a compliment to the people who live here."

"Getting him to come here and see North West Colorado, it means everything, Sollars said.

This is the first time in over a hundred years a presidential candidate has made a campaign stop in Craig.

It comes as a surprise to some because even though it's a strongly republican area, its economy is growing at a faster rate than many Western Slope communities.
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