COGA: Governor Polis signs SB 181 into law

DENVER – Governor Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 181 into law, granting new authority to local governments to regulate oil and natural gas development and signifying the beginning of a lengthy rulemaking process. Dan Haley, president & CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association, released the following statement:

“SB 181 is the most comprehensive oil and natural gas legislation Colorado has seen in decades. While we appreciated and supported a few critical amendments that were added to address some of our concerns and that provide a degree of certainty for our member companies, we still oppose the legislation. I am encouraged by the governor’s comments about coming together as Coloradans and moving forward. To achieve that objective, it means removing politics from the technical process of providing energy to Coloradans. The ultimate impact of Senate Bill 181 will be determined by many complicated regulatory rulemakings at both the state and local levels, which could take years to complete. We are committed to being an engaged stakeholder and constructively working with the governor’s administration to try and get it right. Our industry is woven into the economic and social makeup of this state, and we all benefit when Colorado’s oil and natural gas industry is healthy, safe, and productive. It’s our hope this resets the public discourse around oil and natural gas development in Colorado, and that we can begin talking in earnest about our shared values of clean air, safe communities, and a strong economy.”