Coalition targets Colorado voters in e ort to phase out fracking

BY ERIC GALATAS PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE

A coailtion of grassroots groups is turning to Colorado voters in an e ort to phase out all new oil and gas leases by 2030.

Kate Christensen - an organizer with Safe and Healthy Colorado - said even after state lawmakers passed legislation mandating that oil and gas regulators prioritize the protection of public health and the environment, they continue to permit hundreds of wells - many right in the middle of highly populated areas already in violation of Environmental Protection Agency ozone pollution limits.

“And that is why we need a ballot initiative,” said Christensen, “because every other move hasn’t got us the results that we need for our climate crisis, and for our air quality, and for our water. Nothing else has worked, we have to do this.” e Colorado Oil and Gas Association says if voters approve the measure, there will be signi cant job losses and higher fuel prices. ey argue even if permits stop, the demand for oil and gas won’t.

Leading global scientists have repeatedly warned that fossil fuels cannot continue to be extracted and burned if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change.

Christensen pointed to a recent report which found the oil and gas