Democrats push mandatory climate-change warning labels on gas pumps Image By EPN Staff Democratic legislators and activists are pushing to mandate placement of warning labels on gasoline pumps in a bid to discourage the public from using petroleum-based products or vehicles with internal combustion engines. Colorado’s House Bill 25-1277 would have required gas stations to affix labels on pumps - printed in English and in Spanish in “black ink on a white background, in type no smaller than sixteen points” – that read: “WARNING: Use of this product releases air pollutants and greenhouse gases, known by the state of Colorado to be linked to significant health impacts and global heating, respectively.” The mandate also applied to fuels sold in containers such as propane, and a business that failed to post such warnings would have been found guilty of engaging in deceptive trade practices under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. Each violation would have carried a fine of up to $20,000. The proposal crashed in a Senate committee shortly before the end of this year’s legislative session after party leaders abandoned the proposal. Why it matters The Colorado proposal, sponsored by Democratic assistant House majority leaders and a Democratic caucus co-chair, won approval in the House. But as word spread of the policy’s implications and public opposition, other Democrats – including Gov. Jared Polis – disavowed it. Had House Bill 25-1277 become law, Colorado would have been the first state to mandate such warning labels and would have marked a new assault on an industry critical to the state’s economy and the nation’s transportation sector. The bigger picture Meanwhile, Democratic legislators in Hawaii have advocated for a similar measure, seeking to follow Cambridge, Massachusetts, which adopted an ordinance in 2020 requiring gas stations to post signs stating: “WARNING: Burning Gasoline, Diesel and Ethanol has major consequences on human health and on the environment including contributing to climate change.” Sweden is the only country that requires such labels. Gas stations across the states typically are required to feature various warnings to consumers. For example, in Colorado, they already are required to post signs stating: “WARNING It is unlawful and dangerous to dispense gasoline into unapproved containers. No smoking. Stop motor. No filling of portable containers in or on a motor vehicle. Place container on ground before filling. Discharge your static electricity before fueling by touching a metal surface away from the nozzle. Do not re-enter your vehicle while gasoline is pumping. If a fire starts, do not remove nozzle — back away immediately. Do not allow individuals under licensed age to use the pump.” Additional details 350 Colorado, an advocacy group opposed to fossil fuels, lamented the bill’s demise. They likened the climate change warning labels to legally mandated warning labels on cigarette packages and said the mandated labels would spur consumers to consider biking, walking, carpooling, taking public transportation or even purchasing an electric vehicle. Owners of gas stations and drilling operations as well as chambers of commerce opposed the legislation. The state Department of Public Health and Environment testified that the state should remain focused on the greenhouse gas and ozone reduction programs currently in place. Colorado has declared its intent to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.
