Eminent domain oil pipeline bill fails in Colorado House
“The Colorado House of Representatives voted to postpone action on a bill sponsored by state Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, to give oil companies the authority to enact eminent domain to seize private property for oil pipelines, killing the measure.
Electric and gas utilities have the authority to declare eminent domain for wires and pipelines, but oil companies do not have that power, according to a ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court in Larson v. Sinclair Transportation Co. in 2012.
Renfroe said he sought the same treatment for oil companies as utilities.
“A pipeline company does not just mean an electric pipeline company,” Renfroe said. “It should mean a petroleum pipeline company.””
Lynn, Steve. Boulder County Business Report 4 April 2014.