Oil and Gas in the Hot Seat

The oil and gas industry is going to have to do more to cut its ozone forming pollution in the Denver metro area.  That's good news considering the industry releases more ozone forming compounds than cars and trucks in the Denver metro area.

According to a presentation by the Air Pollution Control Division, just one source related to oil and gas--large condensate tanks--releases 111 tons of ozone forming compounds daily.  Cars and trucks release 108 tons daily.  Below is a picture of a condensate tank north of Denver.  Check out this video (~ 6 MB) to see what ozone forming pollution from these tanks really looks like.

Mower Rebates in Fort Collins and Greeley

It's a small step for clean air in the Denver metro area, but it's the little things that matter.

In an effort to phase out dirty, gas-fired lawnmowers, the City of Fort Collins just announced plans to offer a $25 rebate to residents who purchase an electric or reel mower. What's more, you scrap your old lawnmower and get another $25 rebate. That's $50 toward a new lawnmower, and a small, yet significant, step forward for clean air.

What's more, this April 25th in Greeley, you can exchange your old lawnmower for a new electric mower. This "Mow Down Pollution" event is being sponsored by the Regional Air Quality Council.

Kudos to the City of Fort Collins and the Regional Air Quality Council for their efforts to reduce ozone pollution by getting clean mowers in gear.

New Oil and Gas Rules Promise Cleaner Air

While the oil and gas industry is critical of a package of new proposed rules that will help balance the needs of drilling with the health of local communities in Colorado, we're pretty excited that the proposed rules will lead to cleaner, safer air throughout the state.

Among other things, the rules would reduce foul odor emissions in western Colorado, would limit air pollution when oil and gas wells are being drilled and completed, and would require companies to use low to zero emitting controllers (called pneumatic devices).

We have to say though, the word "rule" is not quite right. Really, these new "rules" set standards of doing it right. Already, a number of companies in Colorado are meeting these standards. BP, for example, is already using green completions to reduce harmful air pollution in southwestern Colorado. EnCana oil and gas is also on a clean air rampage in the Denver metro area, replacing and retrofitting a number of its polluting equipment with low to zero emission devices to help reduce harmful ozone pollution.

Doing it right means reducing air pollution, and that's exactly what these new rules do. Not only that, but these new rules promise to help industry make more money. Williams Production, for example, makes around $9.00 for every $1.00 it spends on green completions in western Colorado.

Really, this isn't about "rules," its about doing business responsibly in Colorado. And from the standpoint of clean air, these rules are a big step forward toward responsible oil and gas drilling.

For more information on these proposed rules, visit the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission's website.

New Air Commissioners Appointed

Governor Ritter just announced four appointments to the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission.

Not only is Governor Ritter reappointing Commission Chair Cynthia Peterson, a steadfast leader for clean air in Colorado, but three new people will join the Commission if they're confirmed by the Colorado Senate.

The three new people include Robert Arnott of Greenwood Village, Dr. Radford Byerly of Boulder, and Ashley Campsie of Littleton. Here's some of what we know about these three:

Robert Arnott used to be with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, but now is tied to the oil and gas industry. He serves on the Advisory Board of the West Virginia-based company, Reserve Oil and Gas, and also owns an environmental consulting firm.

Dr. Radford Byerly is a research scientist at the Center for Science and Technology Policy Research, University of Colorado, used to work with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and also served as chief of staff of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology.

Ashley Campsie used to work with the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division and most recently worked for Duke Energy (see page 3 of the linked permit), now DCP Midstream, a natural gas processing company.

But the real question is, how will these three do on the Air Quality Control Commission? It's hard to tell at this point. We're sure to learn more on April 10 when these three appointees are scheduled to be confirmed by the Senate.