Contributed by Todd Perry, CEO, PPM Consultants
Imagine a world without reliable fuel.
Ambulances stalled. Food supply chains disrupted. Emergency power inaccessible. Flights grounded. Construction halted. In truth, it’s difficult to imagine—because we’ve never had to.
For more than a century, fossil fuels have quietly powered the infrastructure of modern civilization. They’ve enabled extraordinary improvements in quality of life—from clean water systems and healthcare access to global commerce and national defense. They remain the most scalable, affordable, and dependable source of energy on Earth.
And yet, fossil fuels are increasingly under siege—not by science, but by symbolism.
A New Kind of Legislation: HB25-1277
Colorado’s House Bill 25-1277 would require gas stations to place warning labels on fuel pumps stating:
“WARNING: Use of this product releases air pollutants and greenhouse gases, known by the state of Colorado to be linked to significant health impacts and global heating.”
Retailers who fail to comply would be subject to penalties under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act—treating a missing label like deceptive business conduct. They’d have just 45 days to avoid legal risk.
The message is clear: shame the fuel, shame the provider. But what’s missing is common sense.
This Isn’t Just a Label. It’s a Signal.
HB25-1277 is part of a broader wave of government-driven efforts to phase out gasoline and diesel without a balanced or realistic plan to replace them. According to Coltura, over 50 countries and a growing list of U.S. states have adopted timelines to end internal combustion engine sales between 2030 and 2040.
It’s not just regulation—it’s narrative. One that treats fossil fuels as relics of a “dirty” past, instead of resources that are still crucial to public safety, economic security, and global stability.
California: A Case Study in Regulatory Overreach
California’s aggressive climate policies have led to a significant reduction in the number of operational refineries. From nearly 50 in the 1980s, the state now has only about 14 major refineries, with at least three more scheduled to close by the end of 2025. This decline is attributed to stringent environmental regulations, unique fuel blend requirements, and cost-prohibitive compliance standards that have driven refiners to shutter operations or leave the state altogether.
For instance, Valero Energy announced plans to shut down its Benicia refinery by April 2026, citing increasing regulatory and cost pressures in California. Similarly, Phillips 66 plans to close its Los Angeles refinery by late 2025, reducing California’s refining capacity by about 8%. These closures are not isolated incidents but part of a broader trend where refiners face growing challenges in operating within the state’s regulatory environment.
The consequences of these refinery closures are already manifesting in volatile gasoline prices, increased reliance on imports, and heightened concerns about energy security. California’s gasoline prices remain among the highest in the United States due to the state’s reliance on imports from Latin America and the Middle East to offset declining in-state refining capacity.
But Courts Are Starting to Push Back
In January 2025, a New York judge dismissed a climate lawsuit against ExxonMobil, BP, and Shell, accusing the city of trying to use public messaging to substitute for facts.
“The city cannot have it both ways,” the judge wrote—affirming that businesses aren’t breaking the law by continuing to produce a legal product society still depends on.
This legal decision underscores a key truth: the public deserves honest debate, not ideological attacks dressed up as regulation.
Let’s Talk About Reality
Fossil fuels:
- Power over 80% of the world’s energy today
- Enable clean water, sanitation, and emergency services
- Provide the energy density and infrastructure compatibility needed in rural areas, extreme climates, and developing nations
- Are improving rapidly in efficiency and emissions control thanks to industry innovation
Punitive labeling doesn’t change those facts—it obscures them.
Why This Matters
When policies like HB25-1277 become law, they don’t just put words on a pump. They put small businesses at legal risk. They raise fuel costs for working families. They ignore the realities of global energy systems and the people who manage them every day.
And when the regulatory landscape is shaped by ideology rather than science, we all lose.