The battle over oil and gas drilling regulations in Colorado is intensifying as environmentalists and the oil and gas industry clash over a series of ballot measures. Environmentalists and community activists have filed three statewide ballot proposals as a counter-move against the industry's attempts to influence public policy. These measures, submitted by a coalition called Coloradans for Clean Air and Water, aim to hold oil and gas companies accountable for harm to public health and the environment. They also seek to establish in state law the right of every Coloradan to clean air and water. The filing of these measures follows the submission of seven proposals by the industry and its supporters that would ban state and local laws favoring or discriminating against types of energy sources.
The proposals filed by environmental groups align with the goals set by Colorado Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado General Assembly to transition to clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Governor Polis has set ambitious goals for the state, including making the electric grid fossil-fuel-free by 2040 and having 1 million electric cars and SUVs on the roads by 2035. The Colorado General Assembly has also passed bills focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting the use of renewable energy sources. The ballot measures filed by environmentalists aim to keep the state on the path toward clean energy and address concerns about climate change and public health.
On the other hand, the oil and gas industry-backed measures, titled "Consumer Energy Choice," aim to protect consumers' right to choose the type of energy sources they want to use for heating, cooking, and other activities. The industry argues that these measures are necessary to safeguard employment and the economy. Colorado's oil and gas industry provides a significant amount of labor income and contributes to the state's total employment revenue. It is the eighth-largest producer of natural gas in the nation and has substantial oil and gas reserves.
State officials are currently reviewing some of the proposals, while others have been cleared for sponsors to begin gathering signatures. To get the measures on the ballot, it will require 124,238 valid signatures of registered voters. The filing of these ballot measures by environmentalists adds another layer to the ongoing debate and highlights the importance of public participation and decision-making in determining the state's energy policies.
In Pennsylvania, advocates are pushing for limits on polluting industries in vulnerable communities. Representative Donna Bullock introduced House Bill 652, which would require companies to estimate the total environmental impact of new or expanded plants on environmental justice areas. The bill would allow state regulators to deny permits if a plant would create too much of a burden. The state Department of Environmental Protection uses the PennEnviroScreen tool to define environmental justice areas. Qiyam Ansari, an organizer with Clean Water Action, supports the bill and shares his personal experience of living in an environmental justice area. The bill passed the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee last year but has not yet come up for a vote in the full House. [3535c804]