DENVER — Today, Conservation Colorado supports HB26-1434, introduced by Rep. Jennifer Bacon, which protects Coloradans from some of the negative effects of a ballot initiative that seeks to establish a nebulous “right to natural gas” in Colorado’s Constitution.

Advance Colorado is now gathering signatures for Initiative 177 to provide an undefined constitutional “right to natural gas.” If adopted, this initiative could set off an avalanche of lawsuits, increase electricity costs, and risk private property and public safety.

“This proposed amendment is poorly written and attempts to put the interests of corporations over those of Colorado residents,” said Kelly Nordini, CEO, Conservation Colorado. “Rep. Bacon’s bill is necessary and appropriate to minimize some of the risks of the initiative, which could increase energy costs, undermine property rights, and endanger public safety.”

HB26-1434 is designed to:

• Protect ratepayers by making sure current utility customers will not be forced to fund someone else’s “right to natural gas” or cover the cost of new natural gas infrastructure when it wasn’t ordered by the customer.
• Protect public health and safety by specifying that the newly created “right” does not allow the gas industry to evade pollution or safety controls.
• Protect property rights by ensuring that homeowners and businesses can maintain their own property rights and deny installation of unwanted and expensive natural gas infrastructure on their properties.

In 2024, Governor Polis brought together Conservation Colorado, Chevron, Occidental and others in the oil and gas and conservation industries for a groundbreaking pact to forego expensive and contentious ballot initiatives until 2027, which has already resulted in more than $80 million in new transportation funds, secured clean air in Colorado and ensured regulatory stability for both producers and consumers. Yesterday, Governor Polis, Conservation Colorado and industry stakeholders reiterated their commitment.