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DENVER – The Colorado Chamber today announced a broad coalition of business groups opposed to HB 1294, a sweeping emissions regulations proposal that would have major consequences for the state’s economy. The bill is scheduled to be heard in the House Energy and Environment Committee on Thursday, April 20.
“Make no mistake – this bill goes far beyond just the energy industry,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman. “HB 1294 would create complex and costly new regulations on a broad range of businesses, from breweries and bakeries to hotels and warehouses. The Colorado business community has worked closely state officials in recent years to reduce emissions at a large scale, and we believe that we can improve our environment without sacrificing economic growth. This bill not only moves the goal posts on emissions regulations at the expense of our business climate, but there’s little evidence it would actually make a significant impact on air quality. We’re asking lawmakers to keep Colorado competitive and oppose HB 1294.”
HB 1294 requires pollution modeling simulations for several categories of permits, including any indirect air pollution sources that are determined to be large indirect air pollution sources of ozone precursor pollutants. The bill also requires state regulatory agencies to consider the cumulative impact of all sources of emissions at new oil and gas drilling sites.
In addition, the bill attempts to revive a controversial regulatory proposal that failed two years ago following backlash from both workers and employers. The 2021 Employee Trip Reduction Plan was an initiative aimed at reducing emissions by creating mandates surrounding the use of personal vehicles for commuting to work. The Colorado Chamber led a powerful business coalition against the proposed plan and it ultimately was defeated. HB 1294 directs the state’s air quality control division to pass a new “vehicle miles traveled reduction rule,” setting the stage for another regulatory initiative targeting worker commutes.
The growing list of business groups opposed to HB 1294 are as follows:
Absolute Caulking & Waterproofing
Action 22
Adams County Regional Economic Partnership (AC-REP)
American Petroleum Institute
Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado
Aurora Chamber of Commerce
Black Hills Energy
Cemex Construction Materials South, LLC
Club 20
Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Association
Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association
Colorado Association of Homebuilders
Colorado Cattlemen’s Association
Colorado Chamber of Commerce
Colorado Competitive Council
Colorado Concern
Colorado Contractors Association
Colorado Farm Bureau
Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association
Colorado Mining Association
Colorado Oil and Gas Association
Colorado Petroleum Association
Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association
Colorado Rural Electric Association
Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC
Colorado Springs Utilities
Colorado Stone, Sand and Gravel Association
Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association
Craig Chamber of Commerce & Moffat County Visitor Center
Denver Metro BOMA
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
EVRAZ North America
Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce
Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce
Grand Junction Economic Partnership
Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce
Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce
Greeley Chamber of Commerce
JFW Corporation
Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
Longmont Chamber of Commerce
Loveland Chamber of Commerce
NAIOP Colorado
NUCA of Colorado
Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance
Occidental Petroleum
O-I Glass, Inc
Powersports Dealers Association of Colorado
Pro 15
Rangely Area Chamber of Commerce
Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association
Sloan & Associates, LLC
Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce
South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce
Tri-State Generation & Transmission
Upstate Colorado Economic Development
Weld County Colorado
Western Colorado Contractors Association
Western Colorado Latino Chamber of Commerce
Western Sugar Cooperative
Westminster Chamber of Commerce
West Slope Colorado Oil & Gas Association
*Note: This list will continue to be updated on this page as the coalition grows.
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The Colorado Chamber of Commerce champions free enterprise, a healthy business environment and economic prosperity for all Coloradans. It is the only business association that works to improve the business climate for all sizes of business from a statewide, multi-industry perspective. What the Colorado Chamber accomplishes is good for all businesses, and that’s good for the state’s economy. It was created in 1965 based on the merger with the Colorado Manufacturers’ Association.