Colorado Seems to Get the Picture – “Colorado Rising” Doesn’t

January 15, 2020

Despite the resounding defeat of Proposition 112 in 2018, which would have created major setbacks for new oil and gas wells, Colorado Rising, the group behind the failed ballot proposition, has recently filed six potential ballot measures with the Colorado Secretary of State. This latest proposal retains many of the concerning policies that would negatively impact Colorado’s economy.

BizWest writes:

As Dan Haley, president and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association, told the Colorado Independent, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”

BizWest is just one of five Colorado outlets that have published articles this week about the absurdity of Colorado Rising’s proposal. That’s because Coloradans, as Dan Haley says, have seen this before.

In 2019, the Colorado Legislature approved major changes to the state’s energy laws that stand to handicap economic growth.

Industry executives have warned about the effects of those new regulations on the state’s energy and natural-resources industry, which accounts for an economic impact of $11.4 billion annually, according to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

The energy industry, already faced with lower oil prices, must defend itself against this latest attack.

It seems groups like Colorado Rising will never be satisfied until the state’s energy sector crumbles.

So, it seems that once again, Colorado’s energy industry will be forced to defend against a destructive ballot measure that would devastate the state’s economy, much of which is focused in Weld County.

New energy legislation must be implemented gradually in order to measure the impacts and give energy producers a chance to navigate an often-volatile market. If Colorado Rising manages to get these new regulations on the ballot, voters must strike it down once again and send the message that attacks on the energy industry are unacceptable.