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STATEMENT FROM DAN HALEY, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE COLORADO OIL & GAS ASSOCIATION In response to Governor Jared Polis’s letter to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission DENVER – “Colorado’s oil and natural gas producers are committed to clean air and reducing our emissions, and we’re appreciative the governor has acknowledged that our industry leads the nation in clean operations. In fact, we’ve cut our emissions in half since 2013 with more reductions on the way as technology improves. However, the NOx targets as outlined by the governor are very ambitious and will be a challenge to achieve. This industry has proven time and again it is most successful when it leans into technology and innovation and engineers its way toward solutions. The governor’s letter raises questions for us, but we’re committed to being at the table for the rulemaking and finding commonsense ways to continue reducing our emissions along the Front Range. Colorado’s rules governing oil and natural gas development in our state are already the most rigorous in the country, and we’re producing this resource cleaner and better than most anywhere on the planet. There are potentially eight more rulemakings to further strengthen those rules and reduce emissions on the books for 2023 alone. It’s time for the state, including the state legislature, to let the rules work and let our operators get to work producing the vital resources our country and the world need. Any legislation that aims to curb local production will only require our state to import more oil and gas from other states or countries and, as even the governor acknowledges, “delay progress toward cleaner air.” COGA members have been working for years on voluntary measures to reduce emissions that cause ozone, including limiting truck traffic and certain technical procedures on high ozone alert days. We look forward to working with the state on ways we can engage more industries and more individual Coloradans in these important efforts and share our successes. While ozone precursor emissions from industry have gone down, which is great news, it will take an economy-wide effort to meet the federal government’s ever-tightening standards. Finally, as we bring newer, more advanced developments online, we can more quickly decommission our older technologies. To do that, we need permits, which are essential to doing business in Colorado, and any changes to that process need to include a fair pathway to permits for all operators in Colorado – regardless of size of company or location – if they’re meeting the state’s already very high standards and expectations.” Ozone levels from oil and gas Colorado’s oil and natural gas industry continues to reduce emissions and mitigate the effects of ground-level ozone as part of its ongoing commitment to being good stewards of our natural resources and protecting the environment. Check out our fact sheet for more information on ozone. Lowering Colorado’s ozone levels will take a collaborative effort. The state’s ozone model shows vehicles are responsible for nearly three times more ozone than oil and gas at the monitoring sites where ozone is highest. At these problem monitors, which are mainly near Golden and Denver, lawnmowers and leaf blowers cause nearly as much or more ozone than the oil and gas industry. The industry’s ozone contributions are higher in the northern Front Range, where the total ozone levels are closer to the standard, and we are committed to operating sustainably. ### 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.
STATEMENT FROM DAN HALEY, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE COLORADO OIL & GAS ASSOCIATION
In response to Governor Jared Polis’s letter to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
DENVER – “Colorado’s oil and natural gas producers are committed to clean air and reducing our emissions, and we’re appreciative the governor has acknowledged that our industry leads the nation in clean operations. In fact, we’ve cut our emissions in half since 2013 with more reductions on the way as technology improves. However, the NOx targets as outlined by the governor are very ambitious and will be a challenge to achieve. This industry has proven time and again it is most successful when it leans into technology and innovation and engineers its way toward solutions. The governor’s letter raises questions for us, but we’re committed to being at the table for the rulemaking and finding commonsense ways to continue reducing our emissions along the Front Range.
Colorado’s rules governing oil and natural gas development in our state are already the most rigorous in the country, and we’re producing this resource cleaner and better than most anywhere on the planet. There are potentially eight more rulemakings to further strengthen those rules and reduce emissions on the books for 2023 alone. It’s time for the state, including the state legislature, to let the rules work and let our operators get to work producing the vital resources our country and the world need. Any legislation that aims to curb local production will only require our state to import more oil and gas from other states or countries and, as even the governor acknowledges, “delay progress toward cleaner air.”
COGA members have been working for years on voluntary measures to reduce emissions that cause ozone, including limiting truck traffic and certain technical procedures on high ozone alert days. We look forward to working with the state on ways we can engage more industries and more individual Coloradans in these important efforts and share our successes. While ozone precursor emissions from industry have gone down, which is great news, it will take an economy-wide effort to meet the federal government’s ever-tightening standards.
Finally, as we bring newer, more advanced developments online, we can more quickly decommission our older technologies. To do that, we need permits, which are essential to doing business in Colorado, and any changes to that process need to include a fair pathway to permits for all operators in Colorado – regardless of size of company or location – if they’re meeting the state’s already very high standards and expectations.”
Ozone levels from oil and gas
Colorado’s oil and natural gas industry continues to reduce emissions and mitigate the effects of ground-level ozone as part of its ongoing commitment to being good stewards of our natural resources and protecting the environment.
Check out our fact sheet for more information on ozone. Lowering Colorado’s ozone levels will take a collaborative effort. The state’s ozone model shows vehicles are responsible for nearly three times more ozone than oil and gas at the monitoring sites where ozone is highest. At these problem monitors, which are mainly near Golden and Denver, lawnmowers and leaf blowers cause nearly as much or more ozone than the oil and gas industry. The industry’s ozone contributions are higher in the northern Front Range, where the total ozone levels are closer to the standard, and we are committed to operating sustainably.
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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.