Eminent domain oil pipeline bill fails in Colorado House
Electric and gas utilities have the authority to declare eminent domain for wires and pipelines, but oil companies do not have that power, according to a ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court in Larson v. Sinclair Transportation Co. in 2012.
Renfroe said he sought the same treatment for oil companies as utilities.
SPONSORED CONTENT
Ways to thank a caregiver
If you have a caregiver or know someone who has been serving as a primary caregiver, March 3rd is the day to reach out and show them how much they are valued!
“A pipeline company does not just mean an electric pipeline company,” Renfroe said. “It should mean a petroleum pipeline company.”
The bill faced stiff opposition from the Weld County Board of Commissioners, which released a statement Friday applauding the bill’s failure. The measure had bipartisan co-sponsorship, including from Cheri Jahn, D-Sterling, Mary Hodge, D-Brighton, and Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton.
Weld Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer testified against the bill during House and Senate committee hearings.
“We challenged the constitutionality of this bill from the beginning,” Kirkmeyer said in the statement. “The government, including the General Assembly, does not have the authority to give public right-of-way to a private company, nor should they take private property and give it to private companies.”
The House voted Tuesday to lay over the bill until May after the measure had passed the state Senate last month.
Electric and gas utilities have the authority to declare eminent domain for wires and pipelines, but oil companies do not have that power, according to a ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court in Larson v. Sinclair Transportation Co. in 2012.
Renfroe said he sought the same treatment for oil companies as utilities.
“A pipeline company does not just mean an electric pipeline…
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Continue reading for less than $3 per week!
Get a month of award-winning local business news, trends and insights
Access award-winning content today!