Colorado Charts Path to Cleaner Air at Suncor Refinery

Colorado just took a major step toward cleaner air for communities living near oil refineries.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released a comprehensive study this week mapping out specific ways to reduce emissions at the Suncor refinery in Commerce City. The report compares the facility's current operations against national industry standards to identify pollution reduction opportunities that could make a real difference for neighbors breathing that air every day.

"This report identifies additional areas for study and evaluation that could potentially address concerns we've heard from community members," said Michael Ogletree, the agency's senior director of state air quality programs. Those concerns are being heard and acted on.

The study comes from an independent contractor hired specifically to ensure unbiased findings. State officials deliberately chose not to author the report themselves, following requirements under the Cumulative Impacts & Environmental Justice Act passed in 2024.

Researchers looked at emission-reducing technologies already working at similar refineries across the country. They analyzed current air quality data to understand exactly how emissions are affecting the surrounding area right now.

The Ripple Effect

This report doesn't sit in isolation. Colorado has been steadily building momentum on refinery air quality over the past two years.

State regulators adopted new air toxics emissions reduction rules just last month in April 2026. Before that, a $10.5 million enforcement package in February 2024 established a fenceline air monitoring program that tracks pollution levels right at the refinery's borders.

Now comes the next phase: turning research into action. State officials are beginning to evaluate which opportunities from the report to pursue through formal rulemaking, a process that will include technical reviews, economic analysis, and most importantly, input from the people who live and breathe this air.

A virtual public meeting is scheduled for May 13 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., giving community members a direct line to understand the findings and share their priorities. Real change happens when science meets community voice, and Colorado is creating space for both.

Communities near refineries nationwide will be watching how this unfolds, potentially creating a model for cleaner air everywhere.