Turns out, if you mash together members of Colorado’s energy industry with the members of the tech community, you get some pretty interesting “friction.” And that is exactly what the organizers of the Energy + Tech Mashup sought out at Tuesday night’s event at the Denver Petroleum Club (1325 Glenarm St.). Hosted by Karen Suhaka of LegiNation, the Mashup took on a participatory feel. The evening featured an expert panel, but it was audience members and panelists alike that brainstormed together on creative solutions that could bridge vexing problems in the energy and tech worlds.

Mike Stemple, founder of Inspirer and Alan Lindsey, CEO of PetroDE, represented the panelists from the tech perspective. While Stephen Harpham, Executive Vice President of Engineering at Dorado E&P Partners, Brian Taylor, Environmental Engineering Manager at Noble Energy, Vance Barber, President of Redneck Pipe Rental, and Lisa Roy, Land Negotiator at EnCana Oil & Gas, represented the energy perspectives at the event.

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, the only geologist ever to become governor in the U.S., even stopped by to offer support for both of the industries and provide some perspective on the night: “As a restaurant owner, I always tried to find spaces in my restaurant where people coming from different walks of life could rub elbows. I called it friendly friction, and it’s from this interaction that ideas are spread.”

The topics of discussion covered a wide range, from extremely technical and nuanced, like how to efficiently and cost effectively image well heads with advanced technology, to broad overarching questions about the general public’s perception of the energy industry.

For perspective, the oil and gas industry in Colorado generates $29.6 billion dollars for the state, which is equal to the GDP of several small countries. The oil and gas industry puts over 110,000 people to work in Colorado with salaries that average $74,800.00 a year. In addition, the oil industry in Colorado produces enough oil for the yearly use of half of Colorado’s residents, and through taxes, it funds $1.6 billion dollars towards public revenue. Despite the staggering contribution the oil and gas industry makes to the Colorado economy, the tech community spread the message loud and clear: “You guys have a bad wrap. You have a PR problem.”

What can the energy industry do to address this? Audience members chimed in on the messaging required by the oil industry to be successful. Make the messaging more emotional to connect better with the average person. However, oil industry panelists were somewhat wary about emotional messaging, concerned that heavy-handed approaches seem to alienate people rather than connect them.

The viewpoint is not unique to Colorado, as Lisa Roy from EnCana Oil and Gas pointed out, saying, “People who say they are green because they ride their bikes? Well, where did the frame come from? Oil. What about how the bike got into the store to be sold? Petroleum products are everywhere. And people just don’t realize that. Even your iPhone is powered 90% by oil and gas.” On the debate on fracking currently waging in the state, the energy folks assert, “Producing oil in this state without fracking is like asking a tire company to make tires without oil. Its just not possible.”

Tech companies like Google, Mike Stemple pointed out, rely on a third party, like the Consumer Electronics Association to elevate the industry and keep it on good terms with the general public. Another audience member noted the need for clear infographics that help people understand the nuances behind the energy debate. Attendees of the event will be interested to know that such an entity doe exist in Colorado, called the Colorado Oil & Gas Association—and their site does feature infographics.

Innovation served as a unifying theme both industries touched on—and the Governor is doing what he can to foster that in the state. The Colorado Innovation Network (COIN) initiative brings government, business and civil society together to foster collaboration around global ideas, talent, capital and the entrepreneurial spirit. The group hosts a summit every year at the end of August.

Organizers for the Energy + Tech Mashup included Laura Blomquist, Brent Cutcliffe, Amanda Lougee, Karen Suhaka and Nissa Szabo. The event was sponsored by Google, BillTrack 50, WellData Labs, RAS & Associates, Qwinix, Whitestar and PetroDE, as well as the Denver Petroleum Club.

by Emily Przekwas