Colorado ballot measure could grant natural-gas industry a constitutional right to avoid regulation
A proposed Colorado constitutional amendment would give the natural-gas sector a special right to sell its product, effectively shielding it from most state pollution controls and local bans.
Colorado voters will consider Amendment 82, a constitutional amendment that would create a unique right for the natural-gas industry to sell its product, thereby blocking most state and local attempts to regulate emissions or restrict wells, pipelines, and even gas-powered appliances. The initiative is backed by the opaque advocacy group Advance Colorado, which does not reveal its original financiers. Proponents argue the amendment protects industry interests, while critics say it would lock in fossil-fuel consumption and undermine environmental safeguards.
Should it pass, it would become the sole industry in the United States to receive a state-level constitutional privilege, potentially prompting copycat measures across other states. The article contrasts this development with proposals for large-scale solar financing and renewable energy adoption, suggesting a different policy path for the nation.
Why it matters
The amendment could permanently limit Colorado's ability to regulate natural-gas pollution, setting a precedent for other states.
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