The liberal environmentalists who tried and failed to get voter-approved tighter restrictions on drilling setbacks in Colorado aren’t giving up.
Colorado Rising, thee group that got Proposition 112 on the November ballot says it’s forming an exploratory committee to begin running a ballot initiative in the 2020 election cycle.
Anne Lee Foster, with Colorado Rising, the group behind Proposition 112, told Denver Channel 7 that the group is launching an exploratory committee to look at running a similar setback measure in two years.
The oil and gas industry believes Colorado has some of the strictest regulations in the country and has called any large setback increase a job-killer. It was a message that seemed to resonate with voters who rejected the measure.
Despite their defeat, activists said their fight is far from over.
“We are definitely going to be undertaking the task of running another 2020 ballot initiative,” said Foster. “We’re not going anywhere. We will continue to fight for the health and safety of our communities.”
350 Colorado also recently launched an online petition to urge Gov.-elect Jared Polis and state lawmakers to act this upcoming legislative session.
“We’re calling for meaningful action to protect Colorado communities from fracking,” said 350 Colorado Executive Director Micah Parkin.
The petition calls for Polis to increase oil and gas setbacks and completely overhaul the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) – the state agency in charge of regulating the oil and gas industry.
“We’re also asking for a moratorium on permits to put legislation in place that is based on peer-reviewed science,” said Foster.
Activists said they plan to deliver the petition to Polis the day before he takes office.
“Bring the voice of the 1.1 million voters who want safer setbacks, ” explained Parkin.
Foster said they are hopeful that with Polis in office and a Democrat-controlled state House and Senate, meaningful oil and gas reform will pass at the state Capitol this upcoming legislative session.
“We are very cautiously optimistic about what will come out of the legislature,” said Foster.
“If they don’t, we are launching an exploratory committee to do a ballot initiative for 2020,” said Parkin.
Denver7 reached out to Gov.-elect Polis. His office told us he will look at oil and gas along with many other policy issues. Right now, they are focused on the transition and getting ready for Inauguration Day.