Organizations oppose Colorado SB 19-181

Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) and Colorado Petroleum Council officials are expressing opposition to the state’s Senate Bill 19-181 legislation, maintaining the measure would be detrimental on a variety of levels.

The CEA said the bill would curtail new oil and gas development, eliminate tens of thousands of jobs, decrease Colorado tax revenue and eliminate the bulk of the savings residents and businesses have seen in energy costs in recent years. The Colorado Petroleum Council views the legislation as a misguided proposal loaded with unintended consequences.

“Colorado is already the leader in air and water regulatory framework in the world,” CEA Chief Operating Officer Andrew Browning said. “This ill-advised bill threatens to increase household energy expenses and hurt the livelihoods of people across the state by significantly reducing, or all-out eliminating, the production and transportation of safe, affordable energy made so close to home and the thousands of family-sustaining jobs they carry.”

The Colorado Petroleum Council said when such legislation is crafted without proper stakeholder input, it should not be a surprise that it is lacking in technical expertise.

“This measure threatens the viability of entire communities across our state yet continues to be forced through the legislative process at breakneck speed,” Ben Marter, Colorado Petroleum Council spokesman, said. “With so many Colorado jobs and such wide-ranging economic impacts at stake, we simply ask that Democratic leadership include proper analysis and a thorough stakeholder process.”