Ballot

An oil/natural gas industry-backed measure to make it more difficult to amend Colorado’s state constitution has qualified for the November ballot, the Colorado secretary of state’s office said.

Two oil/natural gas ballot measures in Colorado that are strongly opposed by the industry were submitted to state officials for signature verification on Monday, the state imposed deadline for submittal.

A Colorado ballot initiative to increase setback requirements for oil and gas activity could cost the state 54,000 jobs and reduce its gross domestic product (GDP) by $7.1 billion over the first five years, according to a new study from the University of Colorado.

While the probability of making it to Colorado’s statewide November ballot is very small, a proposed voter initiative that would extend setback requirements for oil/natural gas activity could make energy investors uncertain about future prospects in the state, according to Houston-based Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. (TPH).

While nothing has yet qualified for the November statewide ballot in Colorado that would restrict oil/natural gas development, the industry is taking seriously the possibility of that happening, given that some proposals seeking ballot-qualifying voter signatures reportedly could eliminate 90% of land that is eligible for future energy production.

Colorado officials have cleared supporters of four anti-oil and natural gas initiatives to secure signatures that may qualify them for the November ballot.

Colorado officials have cleared supporters of four anti-oil and natural gas initiatives to secure signatures that may qualify them for the November ballot.

A proposed statewide measure to create a carbon tax (I-732) is likely headed for the November ballot as the Washington state legislature has failed to act on the signature-certified proposal and is scheduled to adjourn March 10.

A new wave of potential statewide ballot initiatives in Colorado aimed at oil and natural gas development emerged in the Secretary of State’s Office on Wednesday, setting off alarm bells for the industry organizations.