Larimer County commissioners Tuesday extended the moratorium on new oil and gas operations permits through most of 2021.

The three commissioners voted unanimously to extend the moratorium on new permits through Sept. 15. They also voted unanimously to extend the temporary ban on new “1041 permits,” which apply to larger projects impacting many landowners like solar panel projects, wind farms or pipelines, until Dec. 15. The 30-day moratorium was set to expire Thursday.

The board seemed to have its mind made up on extending the new permits ban before any public testimony, as Commissioner John Kefalas, District 1, handed Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally a pre-written motion extending the moratorium after the 3-hour public hearing Tuesday.

Larimer County halts new oil and gas applications

“This will give the public time to weigh in on the pros and cons” of new regulations, Kefalas said.

“We have the legal authority and this does establish a level of certainty, because now our oil and gas regulations do not align with the state,” he said. “We are not about an indefinite moratorium.”

About 25-30 people spoke on each resolution, most over Zoom as only three people attended the meeting in person. A slight majority of speakers spoke in favor of extending the temporary new permit ban.

“I’m against extending the moratorium,” said Brad Tidd, a business and landowner. “Business needs to return to normal as soon as possible. … This economy needs to recover and take off, the poor are suffering more with higher energy bills. This moratorium affects local jobs.”

Others opposed spoke to the uncertainty oil and gas operators face with new operations off limits in Larimer County.

“The more uncertainty the industry has, the less investments they’ll make in the county,” said Robert Morian, a 30-year Larimer resident.

“Vote this ban down,” urged Chris McGowne, Associate Director of the American Petroleum Institute (API) Colorado.

“This moratorium isn’t about better regulations, it’s about politics,” said Rich Coolidge, director of legal affairs for the Colorado Oil and Gas Association.

But many others supported the extension.

“The moratorium grants certainty to the whole industry,” said resident Andrew Forkes. “It sets a timeline and ensures the regulations will be well-crafted without the pressure of processing permits while the rule changing is going on.”

“I’ve heard people talk about lost tax dollars and money, how about our air quality?,” said Kevin Krause of Fort Colins. “How do you put a price on that?”

Commissioner Shadduck-McNally, District 3, agreed.

“We need to thoughtfully protect the health, safety and welfare of our citizens and future residents,” she said.

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Commissioner Kristin Stephens, District 2, reminded attendees the moratorium “doesn’t affect existing production” and that it’s “not an indefinite roadblock.”

“It’s not about shutting down the economic health of the community,” Stephens said.

Commissioners said public input will be invited at every stage of the rulemaking.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission website shows nine drilling permit applications were filed Feb. 17 by Magpie Operating Inc., but Larimer county officials said those are for existing operations at an approved PAD site – Bunker 8 near Loveland.

In addition to Magpie, at least eight other oil and gas companies work in Larimer: Prospect Energy LLC, Extraction Oil and Gas Inc., Edge Energy II LLC, Blackrock Energy Corp., Kerr McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP, McWhinney Holding Co. LLLP, PDC Energy Inc. and Wellington Operating Co. According to the COGCC, those companies produced 938,567 barrels of oil in 2020 and 6.8 million cubic feet of gas.

COGCC’s sweeping new rules for oil and gas operators, including stricter setback limits, took effect Jan. 15.