Increased Backing for Oil and Gas Operations in North Colorado's Weld County

Increased Backing for Oil and Gas Operations in North Colorado's Weld County

In a significant move towards streamlining oil and gas permit processing, the Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Department (OGED) has established and expanded partnerships with several municipalities, including Evans, Ault, Severance, and Keenesburg. These collaborative arrangements aim to facilitate local oil and gas permitting processes at no cost to the towns [1].

Brett Cavanagh, the Director of OGED, expressed his excitement about the agreements with Severance and Keenesburg, stating that they expand the department's capabilities [2]. Ault's new agreement includes assistance with permit processing, application hearings, site inspections, floodplain and drainage compliance reviews, and issuance of grading permits [1].

Evans, which has been a partner with Weld County since 2022, has updated its agreement to eliminate reimbursement costs to the county, and will now receive services free of charge [3]. The Weld County Commissioners' agreements with Severance (June 2025) and Keenesburg (2023) further emphasize a trend towards regional cooperation in managing oil and gas development [4].

The Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Department acts as a hub for permitting, compliance, and citizen complaint reporting in the region. Given that Weld County accounts for about 80% of Colorado’s crude oil production, this centralised approach is crucial for managing the prolific oil and gas activity in the region [1][2][5].

While there are community and environmental concerns linked to oil and gas operations in the region, these partnerships focus on administrative coordination of permits rather than direct operational oversight or environmental enforcement [1][2][3][4].

Brett Cavanagh stated that the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Evans eliminates the cost to them and shows a willingness to continually work with municipalities to provide the best value to residents [2]. Ault becomes the newest town to collaborate with OGED, joining Evans, Ault, Severance, and Keenesburg in this regional approach for managing oil and gas permits under Weld County’s oversight [1].

To access more information about the Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Department and its services, visit weldgov.com [6]. The county will recoup expenses through existing permit fees [3]. The Weld County Board of Commissioners approved IGAs with the City of Evans and the Town of Ault, enabling both municipalities to leverage the expertise of the Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Department for oil and gas permit application processing and related regulatory tasks [7].

The information in this story is based on data provided by the Weld County Government [8]. These partnerships help coordinate permit review locally, improving efficiency and cooperation in managing the prolific oil and gas production in Weld County and surrounding towns [1][2][5]. The Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Department continues to expand its services to municipalities, as demonstrated by the agreements with Severance and Keenesburg [9].

[1] Weld County Government press release, 2025 [2] Brett Cavanagh, interview with local news, 2025 [3] Weld County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, 2025 [4] Weld County Government press release, 2023 [5] Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Department annual report, 2024 [6] Weld County Government website [7] Weld County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, 2022 (Evans) and 2023 (Ault) [8] Weld County Government press release, 2025 [9] Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Department annual report, 2025

1. The Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Department's expanded partnerships now include Northern Colorado towns like Evans, Ault, Severance, Keenesburg, and soon, Ault, to streamline oil and gas permit processing.
2. These collaborative arrangements aim to enhance the department's capabilities, as demonstrated by the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Evans and the new agreement with Ault.
3. The Weld County Commissioners' agreements with Severance (in 2025) and Keenesburg (in 2023) highlight a regional focus on cooperation in managing oil and gas development, with an aim to improve environmental efficiency.
4. The Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Department serves as a hub for permitting, compliance, and citizen complaint reporting, playing a vital role in managing the health, finance, industry, and energy sectors of Northern Colorado, where 80% of Colorado's crude oil is produced.

Read also: