A ballot measure in Colorado seeks to add a “Right to Natural Gas” to the state constitution, potentially forcing communities that have attempted to ban gas appliances in new construction to reconsider their stance and jeopardizing local climate efforts.

The initiative, led by Advance Colorado, is sparking concern among environmentalists who argue it could undermine progress towards electrification. Critics point out that the broad language of the measure makes its implementation unpredictable and potentially harmful to public health and the environment.

“Really, it’s just a cynical attempt to lock fossil fuel industry profits into the state constitution,” said Kelly Nordini, CEO of Conservation Colorado. “That’s bad for people’s pocketbooks, for clean air, for clean water; it has no provisions for public health or safety.”

The ballot measure faced pushback this year from House Democrats and conservation groups who proposed a bill to protect public health. However, Republican lawmakers managed to stall the legislation at the last minute, preventing any such safeguards.

Conservation Colorado initially planned four initiatives but decided to focus solely on opposing the right to natural gas amendment, reflecting the urgency of their stance against fossil fuels.