Colorado Regulators Approve Aurora Area Wells Despite Fierce Community Opposition

By Kelly Werthmann | CBS Colorado

Colorado regulators on Tuesday cleared the way for a controversial oil and gas project near the Aurora Reservoir, following a yearslong battle by community members to block the plan.

In a narrow 3-2 vote, the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission approved the permit for SM Energy’s Sunlight-Long well development plan. The decision follows more than six hours of presentations and deliberations on Tuesday, marking the culmination of at least seven public hearings regarding the site’s potential impact on the surrounding area.

The approval allows for fracking operations to move forward approximately 3,000 feet from the nearest homes. Members of the community group Save the Aurora Reservoir (STAR) have fought the proposal for three years, citing concerns over air quality, water contamination, and the long-term health of residents.

Commissioner Michael Cross, who voted in favor of the permit, noted that the project met and exceeded state requirements. As established by Senate Bill 19-181, the minimum setback for such developments is 2,000 feet.

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