Colorado has new leader for carbon management

Jennifer Walker Graf to lead commission charged with overseeing geothermal and carbon capture as well as more traditional oil and gas regulation

Jennifer Walker Graf has become the new director of the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission.

Walker Graf, who previously served as assistant director for energy innovation in the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, brings a specialized background in subsurface science, regulatory strategy, and transitional energy deployment to the post.

Her appointment comes as the commission continues to implement expanded regulatory oversight over transitional energy sectors, including deep geothermal energy and underground carbon sequestration, alongside its traditional oversight of oil and natural gas development.

“Colorado’s energy future is evolving fast, and Jennifer is the ideal leader to guide the Energy and Carbon Management Commission into the next chapter,” said Gov. Jared Polis.

“Her experience across subsurface science, regulatory strategy and transitional energy development gives her a rare, full picture of where Colorado’s energy landscape is headed. I’m confident Jennifer will keep Colorado at the forefront of safe, responsible and innovative energy development.”

Polis also credited the former director, Julie Murphy, with “steady leadership” in guiding the commission through historic changes. Murphy had been director of the commission since 2020 — when it was not yet the commission that it is now. It was then called the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission.

A law in 2010, SB19-181, shifted the Commission’s mission to regulate the development and production of oil and gas in a manner that protects public health, safety, welfare, the environment and wildlife resources.

In 2023, Senate Bill 23-285 changed the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission to the Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC), reflecting the added regulation of deep geothermal resources, the sequestration of captured carbon, and the underground storage of natural gas to the Commission’s portfolio. See more here.

Murphy has joined the geothermal industry, and Polis credited her with putting her expertise to good use.

Dan Gibbs, executive director of Colorado Department of Natural Resources, cited the commission’s “nation-leading oil and gas development standards” to protect the environment and public health.

“As we expand into geothermal and carbon management, maintaining that excellence requires a deep understanding of both subsurface science and on-the-ground operations,” added Gibbs. “Jennifer brings that unique combination, giving her both the technical credibility and practical experience needed to lead ECMC and our state into this next era.”

At the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Walker Graf managed complex CarbonSAFE investments across the western US, served as tribal liaison for carbon storage projects, and led national laboratory initiatives to develop AI-based tools for operational risk assessment and mitigation.

Her federal service is backed by extensive private-sector experience leading teams of reservoir characterization, risk evaluation, and integrated development planning across North American basins, including key areas in Colorado. Beyond her technical background, Jennifer also brings a rich history of executive leadership in community-based nonprofits, where she built strategic partnerships, fostered deep community engagement, and led inclusive public outreach.

Walker Graf holds a master’s degree in geology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a bachelor’s degree in geology from West Virginia University. She also holds a graduate certificate in energy innovation and emerging technologies from Stanford University.