Less than a month after Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed into law legislation overhauling how the state regulates the oil and natural gas industry, its effects are already being seen in development curtailments that the bill’s proponents promised wouldn’t happen. During the long and somewhat tumultuous debate over SB-181, its supporters were consistent in their
Read More...Colorado’s top air quality regulator took issue with recent media portrayals of the state’s emissions regulations during the Air Quality Control Commission monthly meeting Thursday. During the “Director’s Report” portion of the meeting, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Air Pollution Control Division Head Garry Kaufman offered clarity around a recent Denver Post article
Read More...Anti-fossil fuel activists have been spinning a tale for months that oil and gas companies can spew “toxic air pollution” into the air for three months without consequence. The short answer is no: the claim only takes into consideration “permitting” and does not account for Colorado regulations. For example, truth is, there is no “loophole”
Read More...The Colorado General Assembly passed its contentious overhaul of state oil and gas regulations today, sending it to Governor Jared Polis’ desk for final signature. SB-181 invokes several changes to existing law, including increased input from local communities, changes to forced pooling thresholds and an update to the mission and make-up of the Colorado Oil
Read More...This week, CNN ran a piece attempting to influence the confirmation hearing of acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. The report lobbed criticism at the Bureau of Land Management for approving oil and gas permits during January’s government shutdown – framing it as the oil and gas sector skirting the effects of the shutdown while the
Read More...The ample warnings about the potential consequences of SB 181 have done nothing to slow its push through the Colorado General Assembly. After passing through the House Appropriations Committee this morning, the bill is scheduled to be discussed on the floor this evening and a final vote is expected as soon as tomorrow. Ultimately, SB
Read More...Yesterday’s decision echoed similar actions Adams County took ahead of the 2018 election, when Proposition 112—or the mandated 2,500-foot setback—was on the ballot. This time, commissioners chose to put a stop to oil and gas activity in anticipation of a rush of permits being filed before SB-181 passes the state legislature and goes into effect. The move
Read More...The Colorado House is holding its first hearing this afternoon on the state’s oil and gas bill. The “Boulder Bill” passed through the Senate last week while a blizzard effectively shut down the rest of the Denver Metro area. As a quick recap, the bill would drastically change many regulations governing the oil and gas industry
Read More...The “Bomb Cyclone” (really, that’s the technical term) that’s bringing a blizzard and whiteout conditions to Colorado’s Front Range has caused businesses, schools, offices and government buildings to all shut down. But there’s one notable exception: the Colorado State Senate. While the House did not hold business today due to inclement weather, the Senate continued
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