Denver City Wire

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently reclassified northern Colorado as a "severe" air polluter, a designation that could result in motorists having to pay more for a special blend of gasoline to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions.

This has prompted Republican gubernatorial candidate Heidi Ganahl to urge Gov. Jared Polis (D-CO) to step up to head off the gas price hike that will result from the EPA classification. 

According to Ganahl's website, former Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and his predecessors demonstrated that much of Colorado’s air pollution actually came from neighboring states, resulting in EPA waivers. However, Ganahl maintains that Polis has not submitted a waiver and has said he would not seek an exemption, which she says proves he welcomes the enforcement to push his green energy agenda.

According to Ballotpedia, Ganahl bested Greg Lopez in the June Republican primary and will face off against Polis in the November general election. 

"For a year now, Jared Polis has been adamant in his refusal to submit a simple letter that would save Coloradans up to 30 cents a gallon because he prioritizes his and (President) Joe Biden’s Green New Deal over the suffering of hardworking Coloradans,” Ganahl said on her website. “Now he’s attempting to blame the EPA for his failure. We see this for what it is: another election-year stunt. I have been calling on Polis to submit the waiver for months now, so that he meets the EPA deadline on time. Coloradans deserve the truth." 

According to the American Automobile Association, gasoline in Colorado averaged $3.67 per gallon as of Sept 19, up about 9 cents per gallon from the same time last year. The AAA also noted that gasoline prices in Denver average about $3.59 per gallon. 

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) said that the state’s Front Range was one of six areas nationwide to be included in the EPA reclassification, adding that this move would “hold polluters accountable." The CDPHE said it had a plan to cut emissions that wouldn’t require the special fuel that would cost motorists more at the pumps.  

“The department has developed multifaceted strategies to reduce ozone pollution,” Jill Hunsaker Ryan, the CDPHE’s executive director, said on the organization's website. “The latest State Implementation Plan equips us with new tools to improve air quality along the Front Range.” 

According to the CDPHE, Colorado can achieve required ozone attainment levels without the special blend of gasoline. The CDPHE said that the EPA has stated it would be willing to explore any options available to meet the requirements and goals of the law.