Latest news with #CentennialState
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Outgoing official makes bold move to push through controversial legislation: 'There's no room for discussion'
Outgoing Colorado Governor Jared Polis is pushing a major energy bill to enshrine his ambitious plan to meet the state's climate target of 100% clean energy a decade early. Polis is term-limited and will not run for re-election in 2026 but seeks to leave office with his climate goal enshrined into law. According to CPR News, the timing of the bill, late into Colorado's 120-day legislative session that began in January, has caused some pushback from business leaders. Sarah Blackhurst, president of Action 22, a local organization that represents 22 counties in southern Colorado, told the publication: "There's no room for discussion. There's no room for stakeholdering. This would be … devastating to the state." Those concerns aren't shared by environmental groups, who are demanding bold action to push the Centennial State on the path toward net-zero pollution by 2040. Colorado's existing plan calls for a 50% reduction by 2030, 90% by 2040, and 100% by 2050. The updated legislation will move that timeline forward by 10 years. The revised proposal will give utility companies 15 years to move to net-zero harmful pollution while keeping rates affordable for residents. The governor has modified his often acrimonious relationship with oil and gas interests in the state. Last year, a compromise was worked out between the dirty fuel industry and environmental groups to avert a "costly, divisive" ballot measure for a few years, as the Colorado Sun detailed. The latest drive to enshrine climate targets into law in Colorado is just one of several key environmental bills being hashed out in state legislatures nationwide. It serves as an important reminder that some of the most consequential political action to protect the environment starts at the local level. Colorado's main problem in reaching its goals isn't actually electricity, which is more or less on target, but transport. Cars will prevent Colorado from reaching its 2025 target. Colorado is actually one of the lesser car-dependent states in the union (ranked 40th), but a lack of public transportation options will make reaching future goals challenging. A spokesperson for the governor's office, Shelby Weiman, explained the updated energy bill was "just the beginning" of talks and expressed hope that "Colorado can continue leading the nation on reliability, cost savings on electricity and climate action." Do you think governments should ban gas stoves? Heck yes! Only in new buildings Only in restaurants Heck no! Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oil and gas industry targets Colorado's emission rules as Trump urges repeal of state-level energy overreach
Western Colorado oil industry stakeholders are suing the Centennial State, in a bid that they say serves to protect energy security and job interests in the region. Specifically, the West Slope Oil & Gas Association — a branch of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association umbrella group — recently filed a complaint against the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission's newly adopted Midstream Oil and Gas Rule. The lawsuit was submitted on March 21 but only made public in a press release last week, just days after President Trump issued an executive order that sought to protect 'American energy from state overreach.' The complaint, filed in Denver County's District Court, cites grave economic damage, infeasible implementation requirements and harm to local communities and the environment. In filing the suit, the West Slope group explained that it seeks to safeguard the state's 'critical oil and gas industry,' which generated more than $48 billion for Colorado's economy and $15.4 billion in direct labor revenue in 2021 alone. 'Colorado's overly prescriptive and inflexible regulations have unfairly targeted the midstream operators in Western Colorado, where economic realities and logistical challenges differ significantly from the Front Range,' said Cody Davis, commissioner of Mesa County, in a statement. Davis — whose county is located along the Western Slope, the part of the state west of the Continental Divide — stressed that fossil fuel industry operators 'have consistently proven their commitment to environmental stewardship.' 'Yet the Commission's one-size-fits-all approach has failed to recognize the impractical and devastating effects these new regulations will have on our West Slope communities,' the commissioner added. The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission adopted the midstream rule in December, with an effective date of Feb. 15. The first-in-nation rule addresses emissions from midstream oil and gas operations, such as facilities that gather, compress and process natural gas, as well as engines, turbines and heaters. Under the regulation, midstream facilitates have until 2030 to meet greenhouse gas emissions limits and must maintain these reduced levels each year thereafter, while adhering to additional targets beyond 2030. The West Slope Colorado Oil & Gas Association noted that in reality, this means that local operators whose pipelines and facilities transport natural gas to businesses and homes would need to cut emissions by 20.5 percent from 2015 levels by 2030. 'By ignoring local conditions, these mandates have now threatened jobs, jeopardized essential local tax revenue, and risk pushing our operators and their families out of Colorado,' Chelsie Miera, executive director of the association, said in a statement. 'We need to produce more energy in Colorado, not less,' she added. While the lawsuit was made public just days after Trump's executive order, Miera told The Hill in an email that the federal action 'is separate and different than our challenge here.' She acknowledged, however, that her group does 'agree that we should be producing more energy in Colorado, not less.' The Hill has reached out to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Air Pollution Control Division for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
14-04-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Oil and gas industry targets Colorado's emission rules as Trump urges repeal of state-level energy overreach
Western Colorado oil industry stakeholders are suing the Centennial State, in a bid that they say serves to protect energy security and job interests in the region. Specifically, the West Slope Oil & Gas Association — a branch of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association umbrella group — recently filed a complaint against the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission's newly adopted Midstream Oil and Gas Rule. The lawsuit was submitted on March 21 but only made public in a press release last week, just days after President Trump issued an executive order that sought to protect 'American energy from state overreach.' The complaint, filed in Denver County's District Court, cites grave economic damage, infeasible implementation requirements and harm to local communities and the environment. In filing the suit, the West Slope group explained that it seeks to safeguard the state's 'critical oil and gas industry,' which generated more than $48 billion for Colorado's economy and $15.4 billion in direct labor revenue in 2021 alone. 'Colorado's overly prescriptive and inflexible regulations have unfairly targeted the midstream operators in Western Colorado, where economic realities and logistical challenges differ significantly from the Front Range,' Cody Davis, commissioner of Mesa County, said in a statement. Davis — whose county is located along the Western Slope, the part of the state west of the Continental Divide — stressed that fossil fuel industry operators 'have consistently proven their commitment to environmental stewardship.' 'Yet the Commission's one-size-fits-all approach has failed to recognize the impractical and devastating effects these new regulations will have on our West Slope communities,' the commissioner added. The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission adopted the midstream rule in December, with an effective date of February 15. The first-in-nation rule addresses emissions from midstream oil and gas operations, such as facilities that gather, compress and process natural gas, as well as engines, turbines and heaters. Under the regulation, midstream facilitates have until 2030 to meet greenhouse gas emissions limits and must maintain these reduced levels each year thereafter, while adhering to additional targets beyond 2030. The West Slope Colorado Oil & Gas Association noted that in reality, this means that local operators whose pipelines and facilities transport natural gas to businesses and homes would need to cut emissions by 20.5 percent from 2015 levels by 2030. 'By ignoring local conditions, these mandates have now threatened jobs, jeopardized essential local tax revenue, and risk pushing our operators and their families out of Colorado,' Chelsie Miera, executive director of the association, said in a statement. 'We need to produce more energy in Colorado, not less,' she added. While the lawsuit was made public just days after Trump's executive order, Miera told The Hill in an email that the federal action 'is separate and different than our challenge here.' She acknowledged, however, that her group does 'agree that we should be producing more energy in Colorado, not less.'
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Colorado Dems are 'poking the bear' by defying Trump's orders, GOP lawmaker warns
A Republican lawmaker has warned that Democrats in Colorado's state legislature could face the ire of the Trump administration if a series of controversial bills passed Sunday — including one labeling parental misgendering during custody battles as "coercive control" — are signed into law. "It really does feel like we're poking the bear," state Rep. Jarvis Caldwell told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. Colorado enacted legislation to expand health care access to illegal immigrants this year, "as well as housing and food and education for illegal immigrants, which is in direct violation of some of the orders that have come from President Trump," according to Caldwell. "And then the transgender issue, we're pushing this further than we ever have before on children in the state of Colorado, and that directly goes in violation of what President Trump is looking at." Colorado Dems Ram Abortion, Transgender Bills Through On Limited Sunday Session Debate: 'Unprecedented' As such, Caldwell said "it's a very real possibility" that some of the state's programs could be at risk of losing federal funding, adding the Centennial State will "pay the consequences for it, and Democrats will be responsible." Read On The Fox News App "Health is a big one with Medicaid, a big portion of that is federal funds, and then education as well," Caldwell said. "And so we are passing bills, especially on the illegal immigrant issue, that directly involve these issues. And so I think that's going to be something that's on President Trump's radar." The Colorado Democratic House majority barreled through four controversial gender and abortion bills on Sunday — which one Republican lawmaker described as a day for "family and prayer," curtailing floor debate in an "unprecedented" floor procedural tactic. The bills that were passed include SB25-183, which requires taxpayers to fund abortion services; HB25-1309, mandating insurers cover transgender procedures regardless of age; HB25-1312, which imposes state-mandated gender policies on schools and considers it "coercive control" in child custody cases when a parent does not affirm a child's gender identity or "deadnames" them; and SB25-129, which prohibits cooperation with out-of-state investigations on transgender procedures and abortion services. Trans Inmate In Prison For Killing Baby Must Get Gender Surgery At 'Earliest Opportunity': Judge State House Majority Democratic Leader Monica Duran told Fox News Digital previously that the four bills were debated on the floor for more than 12 hours last week. Duran also invoked a procedural rule that limited debate to two hours last Friday. But Caldwell said under 24 hours is nothing compared to the Democrat majority's 12 months they spent on several of the bills. "They had an entire year to coordinate testimony, and we had less than 24 hours," Caldwell said. "And then when it went to the final vote, we're each supposed to get 10 minutes for debate, and they completely cut off any and all debate." The Republican minority also failed to get any of their amendments passed. For HB 1309, which would mandate insurers cover the cost of transgender procedures regardless of age, Republicans introduced an amendment to exclude minors from it. "Because some of the coverage is genital surgical procedures, it's hormone therapy, it's facial reconstruction, and then breast reductions and chest augmentation," Caldwell said. "And so now your health care plan, even if you disagree with this, you're going to be paying a higher premium most likely to cover the cost, in my opinion, to genitally mutilate children." SB25-183 and SB25-129 are headed to the governor's desk for signature, while the other House bills now go to the Senate for consideration. Trump Doj, Education Dept Form Task Force To Protect Female Athletes From 'Gender Ideology' In Schools, Sports It's not unlikely that Trump could target Colorado Democrats. Earlier this year, Trump signed several executive orders aimed at eliminating "radical gender ideology," and he's already moved to slash some federal funds in Maine after Gov. Janet Mills refused to enforce Trump's ban on biological males competing in women's sports. Mills lobbed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday over the frozen funds. In January, Trump signed the "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government" executive order, which defines two sexes: male and female. The order prohibits "chemical and surgical mutilation" of minors to include puberty blockers, hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, and sex-change surgeries. It also bars institutions receiving federal grants from providing such services and allows healthcare providers to refuse services based on gender identity. Trump also signed an executive order requiring military personnel to serve according to their biological article source: Colorado Dems are 'poking the bear' by defying Trump's orders, GOP lawmaker warns
Fox News
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Colorado Dems are 'poking the bear' by defying Trump's orders, GOP lawmaker warns
A Republican lawmaker has warned that Democrats in Colorado's state legislature could face the ire of the Trump administration if a series of controversial bills passed Sunday — including one labeling parental misgendering during custody battles as "coercive control" — are signed into law. "It really does feel like we're poking the bear," state Rep. Jarvis Caldwell told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. Colorado enacted legislation to expand health care access to illegal immigrants this year, "as well as housing and food and education for illegal immigrants, which is in direct violation of some of the orders that have come from President Trump," according to Caldwell. "And then the transgender issue, we're pushing this further than we ever have before on children in the state of Colorado, and that directly goes in violation of what President Trump is looking at." As such, Caldwell said "it's a very real possibility" that some of the state's programs could be at risk of losing federal funding, adding the Centennial State will "pay the consequences for it, and Democrats will be responsible." "Health is a big one with Medicaid, a big portion of that is federal funds, and then education as well," Caldwell said. "And so we are passing bills, especially on the illegal immigrant issue, that directly involve these issues. And so I think that's going to be something that's on President Trump's radar." The Colorado Democratic House majority barreled through four controversial gender and abortion bills on Sunday — which one Republican lawmaker described as a day for "family and prayer," curtailing floor debate in an "unprecedented" floor procedural tactic. The bills that were passed include SB25-183, which requires taxpayers to fund abortion services; HB25-1309, mandating insurers cover transgender procedures regardless of age; HB25-1312, which imposes state-mandated gender policies on schools and considers it "coercive control" in child custody cases when a parent does not affirm a child's gender identity or "deadnames" them; and SB25-129, which prohibits cooperation with out-of-state investigations on transgender procedures and abortion services. State House Majority Democratic Leader Monica Duran told Fox News Digital previously that the four bills were debated on the floor for more than 12 hours last week. Duran also invoked a procedural rule that limited debate to two hours last Friday. But Caldwell said under 24 hours is nothing compared to the Democrat majority's 12 months they spent on several of the bills. "They had an entire year to coordinate testimony, and we had less than 24 hours," Caldwell said. "And then when it went to the final vote, we're each supposed to get 10 minutes for debate, and they completely cut off any and all debate." The Republican minority also failed to get any of their amendments passed. For HB 1309, which would mandate insurers cover the cost of transgender procedures regardless of age, Republicans introduced an amendment to exclude minors from it. "Because some of the coverage is genital surgical procedures, it's hormone therapy, it's facial reconstruction, and then breast reductions and chest augmentation," Caldwell said. "And so now your health care plan, even if you disagree with this, you're going to be paying a higher premium most likely to cover the cost, in my opinion, to genitally mutilate children." SB25-183 and SB25-129 are headed to the governor's desk for signature, while the other House bills now go to the Senate for consideration. It's not unlikely that Trump could target Colorado Democrats. Earlier this year, Trump signed several executive orders aimed at eliminating "radical gender ideology," and he's already moved to slash some federal funds in Maine after Gov. Janet Mills refused to enforce Trump's ban on biological males competing in women's sports. Mills lobbed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday over the frozen funds. In January, Trump signed the "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government" executive order, which defines two sexes: male and female. The order prohibits "chemical and surgical mutilation" of minors to include puberty blockers, hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, and sex-change surgeries. It also bars institutions receiving federal grants from providing such services and allows healthcare providers to refuse services based on gender identity. Trump also signed an executive order requiring military personnel to serve according to their biological sex.
