Proposition to Increase Well Setbacks Goes Down in Colorado

Colorado voters on Nov 6 defeated Proposition 112, a measure designed to increase oil and gas well setbacks from homes and businesses in the state.

We reported on this particular piece of legislation last month, which if passed would have required most new oil and gas wells to be placed at least 2,500 ft from homes and other occupied buildings. This proposal would not have applied to federal lands in Colorado.

Perhaps not surprising, the proposal was hotly contested, with conservation groups in favor of the measure squaring off against industry advocates like the Colorado Oil & Gas Association (COGA) who opposed it.

But while voters rejected the proposition by a margin of 57 percent to 43 percent, some Colorado lawmakers acknowledge a need to respond to communities’ concerns about expanded oil and gas activity in the state.

The newly elected Democratic governor has stated his commitment to honoring the will of the voters regarding Proposition 112’s defeat, but also supports giving local communities more of a say in where and how fracing is done around them. Rather than focus solely on setbacks, some conservation groups are pushing for a more comprehensive solution that addresses air and water quality as well as a plan to address orphan wells.

For its part, COGA says the industry is committed to sitting down with all sides to have constructive conversations that lead to practical compromise.

Of course, it is too early to say how exactly this issue will play out in the state. But count on EnergyMakers Advisory Group to keep you posted on the latest developments as they arise.