Coloradans brace for pain at the pump in wake of EPA air quality punishments
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Metro Denver drivers will soon pay the price at the pump for having poor air quality, but just how much — under a nickel or up to 60 cents — remains unclear.
Driving the news: Starting June 1 through Sept. 15, all gas stations in the nine-county northern Front Range area will be required to sell "reformulated" fuel, a blend that burns cleaner and reduces smog and toxic emissions.
- The mandate comes from the EPA, which requires areas in "severe" violation of the Clean Air Act to switch to the specialized gasoline.
Flashback: In late 2022, the EPA officially downgraded the Front Range from a "serious" to "severe" air quality violator after repeated offenses of federal ozone standards.
Catch up quick: For years, Gov. Jared Polis has unsuccessfully fought the new requirement.
- He believes the state can achieve better air quality without it and argued in an April last-ditch waiver request to the EPA that consumers will bear the brunt of the "antiquated" policy by having to pay a 60-cent per gallon premium (an AAA Colorado analysis puts the price between 20 to 30 cents).
- Polis also warned the policy would "create more air pollution" in the state's most vulnerable communities as fossil fuel facilities expand to supply the reformulated gas and as more trucks travel to metro Denver to drop it off.
The other side: An EPA analysis determined the price per gallon should only rise about 3 to 5 cents and will lead to benefits beyond cleaner air, including lower risks of respiratory and cardiac conditions.
By the numbers: As of Wednesday, Colorado's average gas price was $3.27 a gallon compared to $3.48 a year ago, AAA data shows.
- That's below Wednesday's national average of $3.58, which was the same price a year ago.
The big picture: About 25% of the gasoline sold in the U.S. is reformulated, and high-smog areas in at least 17 states and the District of Columbia are mandated to use it, according to the EPA.
- Cities on the list include Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Houston.
What we're watching: Colorado's peak ozone season typically starts in June, when state health officials begin issuing pollution alerts for the Front Range that run through August.
- The Front Range's first advisory this season happened in early May.