Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper to fracking critics: I hear you

Two anti-fracking measures failed to make the November ballot, but Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said the effort sent a clear message.

“Maybe they didn’t get enough signatures, but tens of thousands of people signed those initiatives and want more local voice — and I listen to that,” he said in an interview Tuesday, a day after the measures died. “Just because they didn’t get on the ballot doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t respond to them.”

Hickenlooper’s next steps are less clear. The Democratic governor said he wants to “continue the discussions” between the energy sector and supporters of the two unsuccessful ballot measures, which would have prohibited new oil and gas facilities within 2,500 feet of homes, and given more power to local governments to restrict fracking. But he offered no specifics.

“I think most of the people I’ve talked to both in the environmental community and the oil and gas industry recognize that there is more work to be done,” he said.

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/2016/08/30/john-hickenlooper-to-fracking-critics/