Millions of dollars from out-of-state nonprofits with undisclosed donors are backing Amendment 82, the ballot measure that would make Colorado the first state to enshrine a constitutional right to buy or sell natural gas.

A Colorado Public Radio investigation published Oct. 30 traced the money flowing to Advance Colorado, the conservative group behind the measure. Reporter Ishan Thakore found a network of Republican organizations and nonprofits, some registered to a strip mall in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, that have donated large sums with little insight into their donors.

The measure needs 55% approval on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to pass.

What the money trail shows

Two nonprofits, Colorado Dawn of Colorado Springs and Virginia-based Common Sense America, collectively contributed more than $2 million to support all six ballot measures linked to Advance Colorado this cycle, according to state records cited by CPR. The Virginia-based GOPAC Election Fund, a Republican political action committee, poured more than $3.2 million into supporting those measures, including $845,000 in the week before the CPR report.

Common Sense America spent $625,000 to gather signatures for the natural gas measure and contributed $2 million to Brighter Colorado, the issue committee supporting Advance Colorado's ballot measures, CPR reported.

None of those nonprofits are required to publicly reveal their major donors under IRS rules, according to CPR.

Chevron connection called 'tenuous'

CPR's investigation traced a financial chain linking Chevron, Colorado's largest oil and gas producer, to groups supporting the measure. In 2022, Chevron contributed $350,000 to the Center for American Ideas (CFAI), according to Chevron's political donations report cited by CPR. In 2024, Chevron nearly tripled that donation to $900,000, CPR reported.

That same year, CFAI granted more than $6 million to the GOPAC Education Fund, which then gave Colorado Dawn a $707,500 donation, according to tax records cited by CPR.

CPR labeled the Chevron connection "tenuous." Nonprofits are not required to publicly itemize how they spent their donations, so how Chevron's money was distributed remains unknown, CPR reported. Chevron said in a statement that it took no position on Amendment 82 and did not answer CPR's questions about its contributions to CFAI.

Local concerns about local control

Andrew Pinkowitz, a Centennial resident, told Denver7 the debate comes down to keeping decision-making power at the local level. Pinkowitz lives 10 minutes from an Aurora neighborhood where a data center has been proposed and said he believes Amendment 82 could allow developers to bypass local decision-making.

The Colorado Municipal League, which represents nearly 270 cities and towns, announced its opposition in early October, arguing the amendment would undermine local authority to adopt and enforce energy-efficient building codes, Governing reported.

K.K. DuVivier, a professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, told Denver7 that Colorado would be in uncharted legal territory if the measure passes.

Both sides draw out-of-state money

Opposition money also comes from outside Colorado. The main opposition committee, No Pollution in the Constitution, received its largest contributions from D.C.-based nonprofits the Sixteen Thirty Fund and the League of Conservation Voters, CPR reported. Opponents also received $600,000 from the Seattle-based Utility Action Alliance and $750,000 from the Green Advocacy Project.

Michael Fields, Advance Colorado's president, did not answer CPR's questions about contributions related to Amendment 82 and declined an interview. In emails to CPR, he said all information about nonprofit spending and election rules is publicly available.

Katie Farnan, a spokesperson with No Pollution in the Constitution, said opponents were trying to preserve the status quo and that it is clear on websites and campaign disclosures where their money comes from, according to CPR.

Stephanie Chase, a research manager with the Energy & Policy Institute, a utility watchdog group, told CPR that voters deserved to know who was funding the measure because it could have major implications for state climate policies.

Colorado voters will decide on Amendment 82 on Tuesday, Nov. 3.