DENVER — In a deal struck between unlikely partners, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced that the state’s biggest oil and gas producers and most outspoken environmental advocates agreed on new laws to push forward and others to set aside.
Colorado environmentalists, oil and gas giants strike deal Gov. Polis intended for the negotiations to avoid costly fights between environmentalists and the oil and gas industry. They also agreed Colorado lawmakers would give up on all pending industry- and environmentalist-backed bills, including a set of air quality bills with tougher regulations industry leaders said would harm the state's economy.
“Even if you don't use public transit, this will benefit you because it means fewer cars on the road, less traffic, cleaner air for us to breathe and also tackles greenhouse gas emissions and climate change,” said Matt Frommer, a transportation expert with the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, which also joined the negotiations.