Colorado Petroleum Council Executive Director Tracee Bentley Expresses Concern Over Lack of Stakeholder Process in Upcoming Energy Legislation

DENVER, February 28, 2019 – Today, Colorado Petroleum Council Executive Director Tracee Bentley offered the following statement regarding the Colorado State House and Senate leadership’s announcement that they would file new oil and natural gas regulation legislation soon and had already held a stakeholder process. The creation of new legislation should always include a legitimate stakeholder process, including offering stakeholders an opportunity to review the actual legislation and provide input and related expertise. This is a critical aspect of a transparent legislative process which helps ensure bills are based on all relevant insight – in order to create a bill that is best for all Coloradans.

“In my over 15 years of working with the Colorado state government, not having a thorough stakeholder process is unprecedented, especially for a bill that targets one industry but impacts every Coloradan. We are deeply disappointed that House and Senate leadership do not appear to value the stakeholder process nor the importance of having all stakeholders at the table on one of the most consequential proposals in Colorado history.

“This should make any industry, organization, or citizen group in Colorado nervous about a transparent, public legislative process from here forward and all Coloradans should consider the negative consequences of not having a stakeholder process in the creation of new legislation.

“Each concept outlined during the press conference is complicated and a bill of this magnitude must be considered with immense thoughtfulness and time. When CPC finally sees the legislation, we will carefully consider each piece and have further comment after that. It is our hope that the legislature is willing to have important dialogue with the appropriate technical experts on each of these pieces.”

The Colorado Petroleum Council is a division of API, which represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Our more than 600 members produce, process and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry supports more than ten million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization. In our first 100 years, API has developed more than 700 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.