Our Team

Michael Freeman

Senior Attorney Rocky Mountain Office

Senior Attorney Michael Freeman

Media Inquiries

Perry Wheeler
Public Affairs and Communications Strategist
(202) 792-6211
pwheeler@earthjustice.org

Bar Admissions

CO, IL (inactive)

Mike Freeman works in the Rocky Mountain regional office in Denver, Colorado. His practice focuses on protecting public lands and communities in the Rocky Mountain West from the harmful impacts of oil and gas development, and on promoting clean energy alternatives.

Prior to joining Earthjustice in 2008, Mike was a partner with the Denver office of a large Midwestern law firm and also practiced with a large firm in Chicago. Between stints in private practice, Mike also worked as an associate attorney in Earthjustice’s Denver office from 1998–2000.

Mike graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 1994 and received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1990. Outside of the office, he enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing, and camping with his family.

The Latest from Michael Freeman

March 6, 2024

In the News: The Denver Post

Lawsuit accuses oil, gas companies of fraud after bankruptcy results in 200 “orphan” wells in Colorado

Quoted: Michael Freeman

“Those rules are a regulatory Rube Goldberg machine, with numerous loopholes and many different tracks allowing companies to minimize the bonds they have to post.”
March 6, 2024

In the News: The Colorado Sun

Suncor gets tougher “forever chemicals” and toxins limits in new Colorado water permit

Quoted: Michael Freeman

“This permit gives Suncor an extraordinarily long time to comply with permit limits. The company won’t have to meet its PFAS limits for three years. For several other pollutants, Suncor will get more than six years to comply. That timeline is problematic because this is only a five-year permit. In other words, this permit should expire before Suncor would have to comply with these limits.”
May 24, 2023

In the News: E&E News

Interior’s oil plan is coming. Here’s what to watch.

Quoted: Michael Freeman

“The federal government itself is this country’s single largest source of fossil fuels. The oil and gas rule is a prime opportunity for BLM to address our climate goals and bring the federal program into alignment with what we’re trying to do as a nation.”
June 28, 2022

In the News: The Hill

Biden administration to hold its first oil drilling lease sales on federal lands

Quoted: Michael Freeman

“Why are they having these lease sales given the climate impacts that the Biden administration itself recognizes? There’s a clear contradiction between what the Biden administration says it wants to do on climate and what it’s doing with these lease sales.”
February 3, 2022

In the News: Casper Star Tribune

A judge vacated offshore oil and gas leases due to climate change. What does that mean for Wyoming?

Quoted: Michael Freeman

“The Gulf sale failed to do a credible climate analysis. But climate analysis is really only the first part of the process. The second step is that BLM has to use that analysis to make the right decision for our climate and environment.”
November 25, 2021

In the News: Associated Press

Colorado debates bonding for closing, cleaning orphan wells

Quoted: Michael Freeman

“In a nutshell, with the newest draft, they’ve really reverted to the same unlawful practices that got them into trouble in the first place.”
August 25, 2021

In the News: Bloomberg Law

Interior Climate Review Threatens Advance of Oil, Gas Leases

Quoted: Michael Freeman

“If they actually take a hard look at those climate impacts, none of these lease sales should be happening at all.”
February 26, 2021

In the News: Los Angeles Times

Op-Ed: Where are drilling protections for California residents?

Quoted: Michael Freeman

An opinion piece
Maroon Lake, White River National Forest
October 5, 2016

BLM’s Plan For 65 Illegal Leases on White River National Forest Woefully Out of Balance

By Michael Freeman

The Bureau of Land Management’s new plan for dealing with 65 illegally issued oil and gas leases in Colorado's White River National Forest includes the validation of 27 of these illegal leases, with no additional protections.
A wind turbine at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) site in Colorado.
July 21, 2015

Court Upholds Colorado’s Clean Energy Future

By Michael Freeman

A federal appeals court affirms Colorado's renewable energy standard, determining that states have the authority to tackle climate change by transitioning away from fossil fuels.
November 6, 2013

Fracking Voted Out in Three Colorado Communities

By Michael Freeman

TAKE ACTION, COLORADO! This week, the citizens of Longmont, Boulder, Fort Collins, Lafayette and Broomfield told the Governor to stand up to the oil & gas industry and protect our communities. Now, as state health officials are drafting new rules to regulate oil & gas emissions state-wide, you can join the call for stronger clean…