Colorado Petroleum Council to Join Industry Leaders, Employees, and Supporters at the 2018 Energy Proud Rally

Colorado Petroleum Council Executive Director Tracee Bentley joins members and supporters of the natural gas and oil industry at the Colorado State Capitol

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DENVER, August 2, 2018 – The Colorado Petroleum Council is pleased to join industry leaders, member organizations and their employees, and supporters today at the 2018 Energy Proud Rally on the West Steps of the Colorado State Capitol.

“The natural gas and oil industry supports nearly 233,000 jobs in Colorado and contributes well over $30 billion to the state’s economy,” said Colorado Petroleum Council Executive Director Tracee Bentley. “These jobs are foundational to the strength of Colorado’s economy, and are worth celebrating and protecting. We are encouraged that so many Coloradans understand the importance of this industry and its contributions to the well-being of our great state.

“Our industry is committed to responsibly developing our abundant natural resources in partnership with local and state government, and we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate our long-term commitment to the place we all call home. We are thrilled to play a role in Thursday’s rally, and hope that our member organizations and their employees know just how much we value their commitment to environmental stewardship and safe, sustainable development.”

Thursday’s rally comes in advance of the deadline for backers of Initiative 97 to submit over 98,000 valid signatures to the Secretary of State’s office for inclusion on this year’s November ballot. The initiative proposes increasing mandatory setbacks to 2,500 feet, effectively cutting off over 80 percent of natural gas and oil production in the state. Such a measure could cripple not just the industry, according to a report by the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission, but also stifle the hundreds of thousands of jobs it directly and indirectly supports across Colorado.

 “This is an important and timely gathering, as the men and women in our industry work tirelessly to protect our communities while enhancing public health and safety,” said Bentley. “Those jobs are worth fighting for, and we are proud to stand arm-in-arm with them as advocates and allies.”

The rally begins at 11:30 AM today, August 2 on the West Steps of the Colorado State Capitol.

The Colorado Petroleum Council is a division of the American Petroleum Institute, which represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Its nearly 620 members produce, process, and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry supports 10.3 million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 40 million Americans.