HB1346 grants the Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) authority to seek federal approval for Class VI injection wells for underground carbon storage. It establishes ownership rules for stored carbon, requires ECMC to assist local governments with land use regulations, and mandates the Department of Public Health and Environment to track greenhouse gas emissions from storage sites. It increases fees for storage operators, with minimal near-term revenue, and expands state regulatory duties as the industry grows.
The Colorado State Senate passed HB1346 on April 30, 2024 by a vote of 24 to 11. We have assigned pluses to the nays because there is no constitutional basis for government to regulate carbon storage or pursue such policies under the guise of "climate change." This bill promotes government interference with private enterprise, violating protections guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment. Additionally, it aligns with the United Nations’ Agenda 2030, which undermines individual liberty and local control. States should reject globalist environmental agendas that erode sovereignty and fundamental freedoms.
