About The Energy Council
About the Energy Council
The Energy Council is a nonprofit trade organization formed in 1998 to promote safe, responsible oil, natural gas, and CO2 development in Archuleta, Dolores, Montezuma, and La Plata Counties. Individuals and company members work to strengthen relations with the community, increase public understanding, and participate in open discussions on important issues relative to the industry.
What We Do
Engage In Regulatory Deliberations
Advocacy for Industry
Collaborate
Outreach and Education
Promote Responsible Operations
Community Engagement
Support Operators and Landowners
Unify San Juan Basin Interests

Years Established
Members +
Our Pledge
“As we provide clean energy to America, the Energy Council and its members pledge to:
Protect public safety; Protect the environment; Respect the property rights of others.
We will be a good neighbor through the use of best management practices and appropriate technology.
We believe that being a good neighbor means open communication and we will work to improve understanding between Energy Council members and the landowners impacted by our operations.
We will work in a respectful, collaborative manner with the public officials and agencies that represent the community to assure continued responsible development of the valuable natural resources that benefit all Americans.”
The Energy Council
Initiatives
- Representatives of Energy Council member companies will take time to listen to landowners and other stakeholders and respond appropriately.
- While on duty, industry personnel must:
-
- Respect property and rights of way;
- Protect livestock and wildlife;
- Drive safely;
- Report without delay damage to public or private property whether or not they are responsible;
- Routinely inspect production systems and assure mechanical integrity;
- Ensure field personnel understand the rules and regulations that apply to our operations.
-
- The Energy Council and its member companies believe open communication with the landowner and other stakeholders are a vital element of our good neighbor policy. Our communications efforts will include:
-
- Notifying landowners before the start of any significant work activity on their property and making reasonable attempts to notify and accommodate neighbors of significant work that may impact their land or the immediate area;
- Informing the landowner, lessee, resident and other interested parties of the reasonable use rights of mineral property and surface property owners. We will use a variety of communication channels, including seminars, publications, direct mail and the news media;
- Designating a company contact person and assigning that person the responsibility for responding to public inquiries, questions and complaints;
- Continuously improving our understanding of the concerns regarding our industry of landowners, neighbors and the community.
-
- Energy Council members will respect property rights at all times. We will:
-
- Minimize surface disturbances as much as possible;
- Reclaim and restore ground areas disturbed by our activities as required by law and according to best management practices;
- Protect livestock from injury;
- Practice good housekeeping at all times;
- Drive safely and responsibly on public and private roads.
-
- We will maintain the trust of the community and protect public safety by:
-
- Establishing a comprehensive company emergency preparedness plan and share that plan with local emergency response agencies;
- Conducting regular internal drills to test our preparedness;
- Participating with local emergency responders in regional exercises;
- Constructing and maintaining fences, gates and other site protections where needed;
- Ensuring required signs, notices and warnings are visible and up to date.
-
- We recognize the serviceable roads that are vital to ongoing operations are also used by our neighbors. We will promote the responsible use and reasonable maintenance of roads and other means of access whenever possible. Our personnel will:
-
- Drive only on roads or established rights-of-way;
- Observe speed limits on public roads and highways;
- Not drive too fast for conditions;
- Promptly report damage to roads and rights-of-way, even if such damage was not caused by our activities;
- Provide a gravel and cobble road base that will reduce mud impacts and improve roads in general;
- When safe and practical, remove mud from vehicles before entering paved roads.
-
- As energy producers we must protect the environment. We will:
-
- Comply with environmental laws and regulations that apply to our industry;
- Properly maintain equipment and assure system integrity;
- Apply best management practices to all aspects of our business, but especially those with potential environmental impact;
- Assure our personnel are qualified and can address neighbor concerns regarding:
-