Colorado Energy Fight Intensifies With New Ballot Measures Targeting Oil And Gas

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics

A group has introduced four ballot measures it says are meant to counter an initiative that aims to enshrine Colorado businesses and consumers’ right to purchase and sell natural gas in the state’s constitution.

Filed with the Secretary of State’s Office today, Conservation Colorado’s measures would do the following:

• Establishing statutory liability for oil and gas companies operating in Colorado found to have damaged the state’s air, water, land or communities
• Establishing joint and several liability for current and past oil and gas operators and producers if found responsible for damage to the environment or a community
• Prohibiting oil and gas distributors from requiring customers to pay for pipeline extensions or decommissioning costs
• Requiring oil and gas operators to pay for repairs to aquifers damaged by wastewater generated from drilling operations

The first initiative is a statutory change, while the latter three would require amendments to the state’s constitution.

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