Cody Davis explains why Mesa County joined lawsuit challenging changes to Colorado’s air quality regulations
The Board of Mesa County Commissioners formally approved participation as a co-plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging recent revisions to Colorado’s air quality regulations at their May 20 public hearing. The lawsuit opposes the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission's (AQCC) Feb. 14 enactment of new greenhouse gas rules, which could force the closure of local energy facilities.
Watch the video to hear the Chair of the Board of Mesa County Commissioners, Cody Davis, explain some of the possible unintended consequences of the new regulations on air quality in Colorado, such as:
- Forcing midstream operators to electrify, making extraction of oil and gas in Colorado unaffordable, and leading to the loss of jobs.
- Pushing oil and gas operators out of the state of Colorado, where emissions will still be created, but with air quality control rules less strict than Colorado’s.
- Lowering tax revenue that affects funding for basic infrastructure and education.
“These new regulations on air quality are too stringent, and at the end of the day, I don't think they accomplish what they want them to accomplish. In fact, I think it sets us back in terms of air quality,” said Chair of the Board of Mesa County Commissioners Cody Davis. “It’s only probably going to worsen air quality because we’re pushing all these operators out of the state of Colorado, where they don’t necessarily care as much as we do here.”
Mesa County joined the lawsuit to ensure the voices of Western Slope communities are represented in the legal challenge and to advocate for balanced regulations that protect the environment and the local economy.
View Mesa County joins legal fight to protect Western Slope energy jobs and economy, and watch the discussion where the commissioners approved participation in the lawsuit.
