The Colorado Petroleum Council has issued a statement from Executive Director, Tracee Bentley, in addition to testimony opposing House Bill 1355 that would effectively bypass scientific expertise and remove oversight by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC). The bill conflicts with Colorado鈥檚 safe, efficient development of natural resources and could jeopardise further job creation while increasing costs for local governments.
鈥淭his is a bad bill for Colorado that could damage the state鈥檚 recovering economy and consumers who rely on abundant and affordable energy. This extreme proposal could raise energy costs, destroy high-paying Colorado jobs and does not represent the majority of Coloradans who support oil and natural gas development. For decades, oil and natural gas operators and the Colorado public have relied on the technical expertise and resources of the COGCC with respect to geology, hydrology, and human health and the environment. The COGCC oversees participation and input from all stakeholders with expertise and interest in Colorado鈥檚 oil and natural gas resources,鈥� Bentley鈥檚 statement read.
鈥淥perators have relied on statewide consistency of the COGCC鈥檚 rules. In addition to weakening scientific and safety expertise, this bill would force companies to contend with a patchwork of 64 different sets of county and countless municipal siting rules, which in turn could further shrink local energy development while driving jobs and investment out of Colorado,鈥� Bentley continued.
Edited from press release by