Colorado’s air pollution regulators have set hard deadlines for the oil and gas industry to replace all control devices powered by compressed natural gas. The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission voted unanimously to require the replacement of methane-operated pneumatic controllers and pumps by March 2029 statewide, with a deadline of May 2027 for devices in the Denver metro/Front Range ozone nonattainment area.
The new regulation, known as Regulation 7, expands on previous rules implemented in 2021 and mirrors methane emissions reduction requirements set by the EPA in December 2023. Colorado is known for having the strictest oil and gas regulations in the country, leading the way in addressing air quality and climate change.
While the costs to producers to comply with the replacement schedule are unknown, the move is expected to eliminate an estimated 16,000 metric tons of methane per year, equivalent to the emissions from over 104,000 gasoline-powered vehicles. The regulations are also driving a new industry focused on methane monitoring and mitigation, with a significant increase in services and manufacturing facilities since 2021.
Industry representatives and environmental groups have reached a compromise on the new regulations, with the American Petroleum Institute – Colorado supporting the move as a way to advance emissions reductions while maintaining responsible energy development in the state. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s senior director of state air quality programs, Michael Ogletree, praised the state’s commitment to cleaner air and a healthier future through these regulations.
Overall, Colorado continues to lead the nation in protecting air quality and addressing climate change with these new regulations.
