Colorado Bill to Ban Oil and Gas Development Could Drive Up US Energy Prices

Colorado ranks among the top 10 energy-producing states in the nation. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), it’s the fifth-largest crude oil-producing state and the eighth-largest natural gas-producing state, accounting for 4 percent of the United States’ total output for both. It also has significant reserves thanks to the Denver-Julesburg Basin, and has more than doubled gas output from 2000 to 2022. But Democrats in Colorado want to put a stop to that by 2030. On Feb. 2, Colorado Sens. Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Kevin Priola, along with Colorado Reps. Andrew Boesenecker and Julia Marvin—all Democrats—introduced Senate Bill 24-159, “Mod to Energy & Carbon Management Processes,” in the Senate. It’s now under consideration by the Agriculture and Natural Resources committee....