The American Petroleum Institute released its annual “State of American Energy” report on Tuesday, highlighting Aurora specifically as benefiting from the industry that is responsible for roughly 89,000 jobs in the state.

“Aurora has seen success that comes with staying true to its identity, while also creating a path for economic growth,” API wrote, adding that economic activity from the industry contributes tax revenue, and employees volunteer their time with a range of programs.

“This engagement is part of a broader energy industry commitment to be a good neighbor — to hear and respond to local concerns, improve operations, and protect the environment,” API said. “In turn, the environmental performance of industry facilities, fuels, and other products are constantly improving.”

The association reported that the Sixth Congressional District, of which Aurora is a part, employs 24,900 people in the oil and gas industry. In June, the Aurora city council approved an operator agreement with ConocoPhillips allowing 45 well sites in the city.

Nicole Johnston, the Ward II councilwoman and mayor pro tem of Aurora, is one of the council members who is skeptical of the expansion of drilling in her community.

“I’m disappointed that the American Petroleum Institute chose the city of Aurora in its propaganda piece promoting oil and gas production,” she said. “Yes, we have an increase in new companies and new jobs, but the credit should not go to the oil and gas industry.”

She added that Aurora is home to healthcare-related organizations, like the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and that clean air and open space — rather than drilling sites — are what attracts them to the city. 

An October 2019 report commissioned by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment found that in worst-case scenarios, there would be adverse health effects due to exposure to chemicals used in extraction. The study used modeling instead of actual health impact data.

On a conference call with reporters on Tuesday morning, API President and CEO Mike Sommers got defensive over his industry’s environmental record while going after Democratic presidential candidates who would like to ban fracking.

“We must meet the enormous and growing demand for affordable energy and we must produce and deliver it while achieving even lower emissions to address the risks of climate change,” Sommers said. “Some have made it their cause to stop American energy development. At the extreme, we hear promises on the 2020 campaign trail to ban fracking completely. Here’s a glimpse of that vision: 7.3 million jobs lost.”

Also on Tuesday, Colorado Rising, which calls threats of job losses a “scare tactic,” submitted language to the secretary of state’s office for multiple ballot initiatives to increase setbacks for oil and gas drilling.