Colorado’s elected leaders should be focused on affordability and reliability — not rushing toward rigid energy mandates that leave consumers behind.

Unfortunately, Gov. Jared Polis and some state legislators in Denver are now pushing a proposal to require 100% of Colorado’s energy to come from renewables by 2040, accelerating an earlier target by a full decade. It’s a move that would quickly phase out affordable, reliable American oil and natural gas, while raising costs and vulnerability for the very people lawmakers claim to protect.

Just ask Omer Eroglu.

Omer has lived in Colorado for more than 20 years. He runs a family-owned transportation business, Advantage Denver Transportation, which provides airport shuttles, limousines and taxi services across the Centennial State. A father of three, Omer is proud two of his children are in college, including a daughter pursuing occupational therapy while working as a nursing assistant. He’s seen firsthand how rising fuel and energy prices, often driven by misguided state policies, ripple through small businesses like his — and ultimately affect families like his.

Omer’s story is not unique. Across Colorado, small business owners and working families rely on affordable energy to make ends meet. And yet, the state’s proposed mandate would eliminate access to the very resources that power our homes, businesses and economy.

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Oil and natural gas support more than 300,000 jobs across Colorado and contribute more than $40 billion annually to the state’s economy. Eliminating these resources won’t just erase jobs and investment; it could drive household energy costs higher. According to the Common Sense Institute, state-driven mandates could cause electricity prices to rise three times faster than inflation, increasing average household energy bills by as much as $500 a year by 2030 — and by a cumulative $9,000 through 2040. Meanwhile, achieving the state’s emissions targets could cost Coloradans an estimated $108 billion by 2050.

Omer knows for businesses like his, every added dollar in fuel or energy costs makes it harder to stay competitive, retain staff and support a family. That’s why he’s spoken out, submitting public comments to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and other agencies, urging them to consider the real-world effect of energy policy.

Renewables have a role to play in Colorado’s energy mix, but meeting rising power demand, especially from fast-growing sectors like artificial intelligence and data centers, requires resources that are reliable, scalable and affordable. That’s why many data centers are turning to natural gas. It’s abundant, efficient and there when the grid needs it most.

Natural gas is also one of our most powerful tools for reducing emissions. Since 2005, natural gas-fired power generation has accounted for 60% of total U.S. carbon emissions reductions from the power sector. In Colorado, emissions from natural gas have declined even as production has grown — proof that energy breakthroughs and environmental progress can go together.

Colorado’s energy future shouldn’t hinge on arbitrary deadlines or political wish lists. It should be built around smart, balanced policies that reflect energy reality, supporting a diverse mix led by oil and natural gas to meet growing demand, create jobs and keep costs down for families and small businesses.

People like Omer aren’t abstract data points. They’re the backbone of our state’s economy, and they deserve energy policies that reflect their needs. Legislators should reject one-size-fits-all mandates and focus instead on real solutions that protect Colorado consumers, workers and communities.

Kait Schwartz is executive director of the American Petroleum Institute  Colorado.