This month at an annual meeting hosted by an international energy technology firm, I joined leaders from around the world to discuss the global energy outlook. What struck me most about the diverse individuals and perspectives at the Baker Hughes event was alignment around facts and realities that often get lost in Colorado’s debates.

The reality is that global energy demand is growing, and fast. Global oil consumption, which today is nearly 105 million barrels per day, is projected to increase by an additional million barrels per day in 2027 and continue rising. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that world energy use could rise nearly 50% by 2050.

At the same time, the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and data centers is reshaping electricity demand, with global data center power use on track to more than double in 2026 compared to 2022 levels. The increase in electricity demand is moving at a pace never before seen, and global leaders are planning accordingly.

Baker Hughes’ CEO Lorenzo Simonelli opened the conference by challenging participants to think differently about the path forward. He described the need to “rewrite the energy equation.”

The realities of global energy require a framework that first recognizes demand, while also balancing three essential priorities: sustainability, affordability, and security. Solving that equation requires pragmatism, technological innovation, and a broad mix of fit-for-purpose energy solutions rather than rigid, one-dimensional approaches.

After hearing perspectives from leaders in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, it’s hard to imagine a more relevant framing, especially for Colorado.

Across multiple sessions, ministers spoke candidly about maximizing existing assets while deploying next-generation technologies. Oil and natural gas were discussed not as obstacles, but as enablers, supporting grid stability, and economic growth while continuing to reduce emissions. Infrastructure projects like pipelines, processing facilities, export capacity, and storage were treated not as liabilities, but as strategic advantages.

There was no tired, outdated framing of “good” energy versus “bad” energy, or renewables versus hydrocarbons. Instead, leaders focused on results: lower emissions, higher reliability, and systems that work in the real world.

Colorado’s energy debate has become increasingly disconnected from the realities of how energy systems operate. Colorado politics has framed energy policy as a moral choice rather than a systems challenge. Innovation is not our limiting factor. Pragmatic policy is.

In Colorado we have the expertise, workforce, and technical capability to lead the next generation of energy development and support a thriving economy for all. What’s standing in the way is uncertainty, especially around permitting, infrastructure, and long-term investment signals. Alongside the energy reality is the reality that businesses, investments, and the jobs they provide are mobile. An inconsistent policy environment creates uncertainty that may redirect investment elsewhere, without changing underlying energy demand.

One of the most striking differences between the global conversation and the one in Colorado was tone. The rest of the world has recognized that reality demands realistic policy. They have seen first-hand how restrictive energy policy dramatically increases electricity costs on consumers and businesses, undermining both economies and grid stability. Leaders at the conference were aligned on delivering results, not divided by ideology. That collaboration doesn’t weaken environmental goals, it strengthens them, by ensuring they’re achievable and backed by systems that work.

Colorado can and should adopt that same posture. We can lead on emissions reductions while preserving affordability and reliability. We can protect public health while growing jobs and investment in our state. But doing so requires moving past false choices.

As Simonelli emphasized, rewriting the energy equation means recognizing that balance is how progress is built. If Colorado wants to remain competitive, sustainable, and prosperous, we must rewrite our energy equation to be technology-neutral, outcomes-focused, and grounded in reality.

As Coloradoans go to the polls this November, we should reject false choices and ideologies. Our choice is simple: we can build an energy system that supports a growing economy and improves affordability, or fall behind while others move ahead.

Lynn Granger is the president and CEO of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association.

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