The Board of Mesa County Commissioners voted to join the West Slope Colorado Oil and Gas Association (WSCOGA) as a co-plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging recent revisions to Colorado’s air-quality regulations.

The lawsuit contests the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission’s Feb. 14 enactment of new greenhouse gas rules that could force the closure of local energy facilities.

The board formally approved participation in the lawsuit through a resolution during its May 20 public hearing.

According to a news release from Mesa County, the new regulations require oil and gas companies that operate pipelines, compressor stations and other midstream facilities to convert to electric power – an option that is costly and, in many cases, not feasible – or shut down.

“Mesa County supports clean air, but these new rules ignore the realities of our region,” said Cody Davis, chairman of the Mesa County Commission. “These one-size-fits-all mandates don’t work for western Colorado and could cost our communities jobs, tax revenues and economic stability.”

According to the news release, the commissioners noted the impacts of these regulations would fall hardest on rural counties like Mesa County, where energy jobs and the infrastructure that supports them are key parts of the local economy. They also raised concerns about unintended consequences, including the potential for higher emissions if local operators are forced to shut down, and oil and gas are transported from out-of-state sources instead.

“These new rules are intended to protect the environment, but ironically, they may do more harm than good, especially in rural communities like ours,” Davis said. “We have to pay attention to the unintended consequences.”

By joining the lawsuit, Mesa County aims to ensure the voices of Western Slope communities are represented in the legal challenge and to advocate for balanced regulations that protect the environment and the local economy.