Colorado鈥檚 Air Quality Control Commission is considering rules that would set limits for emissions and require more extensive efforts to monitor and fix leaks.
A day-long hearing Saturday caps off four days of public testimony that have been largely drama-free. The proposal has won praise from both environmental groups and the industry.
Although not all drillers support it, three of the largest operators in Colorado -- , , and 鈥� have signed onto the plan.
Steve Lynn, who covers energy for the , says that could be partly to burnish the industry鈥檚 image in the wake of recent backlash. But -- he adds there could also be a profit motive, too.
"One of the main focuses of these regulations is methane emissions," Lynn says. "And methane is, of course, a component of natural gas. So the more methane they can capture, the more natural gas they can sell."
Lynn expects the Commission will adopt the rules 鈥� although some environmental groups worry the plan could be watered down. The rules would be the nation's first statewide methane-emissions standard for energy producers.
The final hearing is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
