Governor vetoes bill prohibiting state incentives for polluting plastics-to-fuel facilities

Governor Polis has vetoed Senate Bill 24-150, which aimed to prohibit plastics-to-fuel combustion units from being eligible for any state incentives. The bill would have also required pyrolysis and gasification processes to be regulated as incineration systems. Other states have reclassified these processes as manufacturing, which results in much less stringent pollution regulations.

The legislation sought to protect Coloradans from the toxic pollutants such facilities produce, such as dioxins, arsenic, mercury, and benzene, all of which are linked to serious health issues, including cancers and respiratory disorders.

This veto opens the door for plastics-to-fuel facilities to potentially establish operations in Colorado, which probably wouldn’t be economically viable without state subsidies. Further, these facilities could operate under a regulatory framework that may not adequately address the significant health risks associated with the pollution they create.

We at Environment Colorado are disappointed with the Governor’s decision. Taxpayer dollars should not support or encourage polluting industries.