Conflicting regulations, clashing priorities

Relationships between oil and gas companies and Northern Colorado have taken a decidedly chilly turn this year as calls for tighter regulations echo across the region.

Except for in Weld County. While moratoriums cropped up in one municipality after the next, Weld remained a friendly locale for oil and natural-gas drilling.

“Weld County is considered a very good place to do business,´ said Tisha Conoly Schuller, president of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association.

That’s because the county has let the state take the lead on permitting for oil and gas development. That hasn’t been the case in a growing number of…