Denver, CO (May 23, 2024) - The Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) today announced that Commissioner Karin McGowan will move on from her ECMC role, where she serves as the Commissioner with experience in public health. McGowan was appointed by Governor Polis in July 2020, to be one of the first full-time commissioners for ECMC, for a term ending July 1, 2024.
“We are so grateful for Commissioner McGowan’s contribution and commitment to developing some of the most innovative and effective oil and gas rules in the nation,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “Karin’s perspective, experience, and ability to work with diverse stakeholders helped ECMC complete multiple rulemakings that met our priorities of protecting human health, public safety, wildlife and the environment. We thank Karin for her service to the Commission and the Department of Natural Resources, and know she will do great things in her next role at the City of Denver.”
As Commissioner, McGowan was involved in rulemaking that brought greater transparency and access to the Commission, ECMC’s first environmental justice permitting requirements, increased protections for public health and the environment, including groundwater, and reformed financial assurance and orphan well requirements.
“We want to thank Commissioner McGowan for her dedication and bringing the public health voice to ECMC’s rulemakings and daily work,” said Jeff Robbins, ECMC Chair. “She is a committed public servant who understands how to balance diverse stakeholder needs, while finding pragmatic solutions. Her work will now deliver protections to all of Colorado. We wish her the best and thank her for serving on the Commission.”
"I am incredibly grateful to have served on behalf of the people of Colorado at ECMC. I am very proud of the work we have done to advance the Commission’s mission, and to adopt rules that are recognized as the best in the nation. It has been an honor to work alongside my fellow commissioners, the dedicated ECMC Staff and passionate stakeholders,” said Commissioner McGowan.
McGowan will begin June 17 with the City and County of Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. Her last day with the Commission is June 14.
About the ECMC
The mission of the Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) is to regulate the development and production of the natural resources of oil and gas, deep geothermal resources, the capture and sequestration of carbon, and the underground storage of natural gas in a manner that protects public health, safety, welfare, the environment and wildlife resources. Visit the ECMC website for more information.