Weld County proposes 51st state: North Colorado

Weld County commissioners say there’s interest from eight Colorado counties to form a 51st US state called North Colorado.

The Greeley Tribune reports Thursday that commissioners Sean Conway, Mike Freeman and Doug Rademacher say they will conduct public meetings and decide whether to draft a ballot measure by Aug. 1. The U.S. Constitution requires that Legislatures must first approve any state that is to be created within its jurisdiction.

Weld County commissioners say the other counties expressing interest in forming a new state are Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Washington, Yuma and Kit Carson.

Commissioners say failed legislative efforts to crack down on oil and gas, as well as increases in rural renewable energy standards were “the straws that broke the camel’s back.”