colowyoGov. Hickenlooper’s grand design to be a copycat and govern by regulation like President Obama has Northwest Colorado up in arms.

It stands to reason they are not pleased about his CO2 emission plan to put power plants and the coal industry out of business, because they depend on two such plants and the coal that keeps their lights on.

They say Hick’s go-it-alone strategy flies in the face of the Supreme Court ruling which put a hold on the flawed carbon rules proposed by the EPA, and they are correct.

Moffat County Commissioner John Kinkaid called it a “misguided effort” that will only backfire. Tri-State is also urging Hick to back off the executive order until the court has rendered a final decision.

Colorado Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, said in a statement that Hickenlooper’s actions might rob citizens of the right to petition government through elected representatives and participate in enacting policy.

“Executive orders at both the state and federal levels strip citizens of this right,” he said. “I’m disappointed that the governor has decided to push regulations that will have a devastating impact on Colorado’s economy, taking jobs away from families and raising energy costs.”

It makes no sense to ram this executive order through and bypass the state legislature, when the courts are still deciding whether the regulations are even legal.

But it appears Hick is more interested in establishing his legacy with environmentalists, and less concerned about the impact his actions will have on the state’s economy, energy industry, and our ability to pay our electricity and heating bills.