Longmont officials endorse bill to end new oil permits by 2030

Matthew Bennett, Daily Times-Call, Longmont, Colo.
·2 min read

Mar. 9—The Longmont City Council has thrown its weight behind a state bill that would require the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission to stop issuing new oil and gas permits before Jan. 1, 2030,

The council voted 6-1 to support Senate Bill 24-159, with Councilmember Diane Crist dissenting. Democratic State Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, whose district includes Boulder, Broomfield and Weld counties. sponsored the bill.

"Given the council's long-standing policy around, kind of, no drilling in Longmont, and the fact that this would help our air quality overall, staff is recommending that (the council) support Senate Bill 24-159," said Sandra Seader, Longmont assistant city manager.

Crist said that setting a deadline to end new oil and gas permits less than six years away from now seems too quick.

"It's not like we can use oil and gas one day and then the next day we're not using it. We have to transition," Crist said in an interview Friday. "I think the deadline that legislation puts in place is a little soon."

If signed into law, the bill also would reduce the total number of oil and gas wells that could be approved in 2028 and 2029. The proposed legislation requires the state commission to add as a condition to permits issued after July 1, 2024, that "certain operations must commence on or before Dec. 31, 2032, as to each oil and gas well included in the permit."

The proposed legislation states that oil and gas production has "resulted in negative cumulative impacts to Coloradans from over one hundred thousand wells drilled over decades." More than half of all Coloradans live in areas exposed to pollution from oil and gas operations, according to the bill.

"I wonder how many gas and oil companies are going to rush to get all those permits in before 2030?" Longmont Mayor Joan Peck said rhetorically. "But, yes, I support this as well."

The council votes on whether or not to endorse numerous bills throughout the Colorado legislative session, which started on Jan. 10 and is slated to adjourn on May 8.