Like labels on cigarettes, opponents say fossil fuel warnings could change attitudes. Others call it gasoline "shaming."
This story was originally published by Capital and Main The Centennial State may become first in the nation to require retailers to warn consumers that burning fossil fuels "releases air pollutants and greenhouse gases, known by the state of Colorado to be linked to significant health impacts and global heating." The warning is the linchpin of a bill — HB25-1277 — that narrowly passed the state House on April 2 and is scheduled to be heard in the Senate's Transportation & Energy Committee this week. Its Democratic sponsors say the bill will raise awareness among consumers that combusting gas in their vehicles creates pollutants that harm their health and trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to more intense and extreme weather, wildfires and drought. The groundbreaking measure would require retailers to place warning labels printed in black ink on a white background in English and Spanish in no smaller than 16-point type on fuel pumps and "in a conspicuous location" near displays offering petroleum-based goods for sale. Proponents compare the stickers to warnings labels on cigarettes that scientific evidence found motivated consumers to reconsider the health impacts of smoking. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How The labeling bill is backed by environmental groups, including 350 Colorado and the Sierra Club, and opposed by gas stations, chambers of commerce and energy trade associations. About 136 lobbyist registrations were filed with the secretary of state in the position of support, opposition, or monitoring — a benchmark of the measure's divisiveness. "The bill, as you've heard, seeks to drive systemic change and to help us meet our greenhouse gas emission goals," state Rep. Junie Joseph (D-Boulder), a sponsor, testified at a House Energy & Environment Committee hearing on March 6. "Colorado is actively working to reduce emissions to comply with the Clean Air Act…