Funding the Plugging of Abandoned Wells

What’s happening? Colorado has 60,000 abandoned wells that need to be plugged at a cost of $140,000 each for a total of more than $8 billion.

Why is this important? CO’s law says industry is to pay in a system of blanket bonding for the clean up. The state has only collected $125 million. IN 2019, the state gave local government more powers over oil well clean up.

How will this be important? When Colorado dug into this, other regulations were changed too. Including that regulators banned the burning off or releasing of natural gas, a routine drilling practice, & created a broad range of wildlife and public health protection policies

Route Fifty | In Colorado, the Looming Liability of Oil and Gas Cleanup