CPC and COGA Joint Statement on SB19-181

DENVER, March 3, 2019 – The following is a joint statement from Dan Haley, President and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association (COGA), and Tracee Bentley, Executive Director of the Colorado Petroleum Council (CPC):

Late Friday afternoon, Democratic legislative leaders introduced sweeping anti-oil and natural gas legislation. Senate Bill 181 is scheduled to be heard in a Senate committee at 2 p.m. Tuesday, just one business day after it was introduced.

We are asking Senate President Leroy Garcia and Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg to not rush this bill into committee on Tuesday and instead allow a diverse set of stakeholders more time to review the comprehensive and technical piece of legislation. Senate Bill 181 would impact the livelihoods of Coloradans across the state, including many who live in rural areas and may not be able to make it to the Capitol to testify on such short notice. We’re asking that Senate President Garcia and others allow for a transparent stakeholder process that includes impacted Coloradans, including local governments, environmental interests, regulators, and industry. Our elected leaders can’t be asked to vote on a bill this complicated and this encompassing – and one with such grave impacts – without first a legitimate dialogue. No good can come out of legislation that is revealed on a Friday night and rushed through the legislative process.

About COGA

Founded in 1984, the Colorado Oil & Gas Association’s (COGA) mission is to foster and promote the beneficial, efficient, responsible and environmentally sound development, production and use of Colorado oil and natural gas. COGA is a nationally recognized trade association that aggressively promotes the expansion of Rocky Mountain natural gas markets, supply, and transportation infrastructure through its growing and diverse membership.

About CPC

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.

Contacts

Tracee Bentley: BentleyT@api.org

Dan Haley: Dan.Haley@coga.org