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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Scott Prestidge scott.prestidge@coga.org DENVER – The Colorado Oil & Gas Association (COGA) responds to Colorado Rising’s announcement to potentially put another measure on the 2020 ballot, which threaten jobs and economic health. “This is déjà vu all over again. Last election, Coloradans decisively defeated an energy industry ban that would have shredded private property rights and put working families on the unemployment line. Now, keep-it-in-the ground activists are back, pushing the same extreme measure and a few ‘112 lites.’ I’m confident Coloradans will again stand with working families and decline to sign these disastrous petitions. “Gov. Jared Polis and political leaders on both sides of the aisle rejected the measure in 2018, and I expect that will happen again given the grave consequences, and also considering nearly every aspect of our industry is currently under an intense regulatory microscope as state officials work to fully implement Senate Bill 181, the sweeping oil and natural gas bill pushed through the legislature last year. “Colorado’s oil and natural gas industry creates good jobs, produces affordable and reliable energy that we all need and use, and we’re doing it cleaner, safer and smarter than anywhere else. The technology and innovation taking place out in the field is impressive, with geologists, engineers, and environmental managers overseeing projects that protect our water and improve our air quality. And the data supports our successes.” -- Dan Haley, President and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association Fact check To correct some misinformation from Colorado Rising’s news conference: Colorado Rising activists offered misleading and distorted references to the recently released Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment health study. That study confirms there are no anticipated long-term health impacts, including cancer, for people living near oil and natural gas development. Misleading comments also were made regarding so-called “orphan wells” and “taxpayers” footing the bill for reclaiming those sites. Oil and natural gas companies are assessed a mill levy by the state to pay for the plugging and reclamation of those state-owned wells. Proposition 112 was defeated by a 10-point margin in 2018. It would have made 94 percent of private land in the top five oil and natural gas producing counties in Colorado off limits to new development. According to a study conducted by the Common-Sense Policy Roundtable and a coalition of other organizations, it would have killed up to 147,800 good-paying jobs in Colorado by 2030 and the state would have lost $218 billion in GDP by 2030. About COGA Founded in 1984, the Colorado Oil & Gas Association’s (COGA) mission is to be the unified political and regulatory voice for the oil and gas industry in Colorado, and supporting our members through advocacy, partnerships, education and stakeholder engagement.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Scott Prestidge scott.prestidge@coga.org
DENVER – The Colorado Oil & Gas Association (COGA) responds to Colorado Rising’s announcement to potentially put another measure on the 2020 ballot, which threaten jobs and economic health. “This is déjà vu all over again. Last election, Coloradans decisively defeated an energy industry ban that would have shredded private property rights and put working families on the unemployment line. Now, keep-it-in-the ground activists are back, pushing the same extreme measure and a few ‘112 lites.’ I’m confident Coloradans will again stand with working families and decline to sign these disastrous petitions. “Gov. Jared Polis and political leaders on both sides of the aisle rejected the measure in 2018, and I expect that will happen again given the grave consequences, and also considering nearly every aspect of our industry is currently under an intense regulatory microscope as state officials work to fully implement Senate Bill 181, the sweeping oil and natural gas bill pushed through the legislature last year. “Colorado’s oil and natural gas industry creates good jobs, produces affordable and reliable energy that we all need and use, and we’re doing it cleaner, safer and smarter than anywhere else. The technology and innovation taking place out in the field is impressive, with geologists, engineers, and environmental managers overseeing projects that protect our water and improve our air quality. And the data supports our successes.” -- Dan Haley, President and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association
Fact check To correct some misinformation from Colorado Rising’s news conference:
Proposition 112 was defeated by a 10-point margin in 2018. It would have made 94 percent of private land in the top five oil and natural gas producing counties in Colorado off limits to new development. According to a study conducted by the Common-Sense Policy Roundtable and a coalition of other organizations, it would have killed up to 147,800 good-paying jobs in Colorado by 2030 and the state would have lost $218 billion in GDP by 2030. About COGA Founded in 1984, the Colorado Oil & Gas Association’s (COGA) mission is to be the unified political and regulatory voice for the oil and gas industry in Colorado, and supporting our members through advocacy, partnerships, education and stakeholder engagement.