DENVER, January 26, 2017 – Colorado Petroleum Council (CPC) Executive Director Tracee Bentley said today that Colorado consumers and families who are seeing the economic and environmental benefits of domestic energy development can applaud the state’s recommendation to end the ban.

“Colorado already has some of the strongest oil and gas industry regulations in the country, and our industry remains committed to working with state and local officials to ensure that we address issues of concern as Colorado partakes in America’s energy renaissance.

“The technology has been proven safe, and Colorado is realizing the economic and environmental benefits of its use. Thanks to U.S. leadership on energy development, led by the production happening throughout Colorado, drivers are saving more than $550 in fuel costs and household budgets grew by $1,337 due to utility and other energy-related savings in 2015.

“Boulder’s decision to ban energy development clearly contradicts state law, as per the recent decision of the Colorado Supreme Court, and we believe everyone should be held accountable for breaking the law. We welcome this action by the Office of the Attorney General for standing up against a short-sighted effort that threatens the economy, property rights, jobs, and state revenue.”

The Colorado Supreme Court recently upheld the state’s primacy in overseeing oil and natural gas permitting. The decision made clear that a five-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing impermissibly conflicts with state law. The decision curtails arbitrary bans that could cost local jobs, deprive state and local governments of much-needed tax revenues, and limit access to critical energy resources.

In December 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized its six-year, multi-million dollar, national study of hydraulic fracturing and did not find evidence that the process leads to widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources in the United States. In Colorado, the Oil and Gas Conservation Act was enacted to “foster the responsible, balanced development, production, and utilization of the natural resources of oil and gas in the state of Colorado in a manner consistent with protection of public health, safety, and welfare, including protection of the environment and wildlife resources,” to “protect the public and private interests against waste,” and to “enforce the coequal and correlative rights of owners.”  

CPC is a division of API, which represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 625 members produce, process, and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. 

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