Hickenlooper Optimistic About Fracking Panel
DENVER (AP) - Gov. John Hickenlooper said Tuesday that he's optimistic a panel he assembled will help resolve conflicts between Colorado's booming energy industry and homeowners on how land should be used.
"This is one of the most important issues I've ever worked on," the Democratic governor said.
The 19-member panel announced Monday was part of a compromise last month to get groups to drop four competing ballot initiatives that either sought to limit or support hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
Hickenlooper warned that the anti-fracking initiatives, if passed, would have harmed Colorado's economy. The proposals also created a political rift because Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Polis was financially backing two initiatives to restrict fracking and grant local governments more control over energy development.
The governor's panel, which includes representatives of the oil industry, local governments and environmentalists, will issue recommendations to state lawmakers by March. Hickenlooper acknowledged that if nothing comes of the panel, it is possible that groups will be discussing ballot initiatives again.
He said he is sympathetic to homeowners who are concerned about having oil rigs close to their homes.
"Most of us would say, 'Yeah, that would be alarming,'" Hickenlooper said, but noted that the property rights of energy companies also need to be considered.
"In so many cases, somebody bought those mineral rights long before the home was anywhere close," he said.
Fracking is a technique that blasts a mix of water, sand or gravel, and chemicals into underground rock formations to release trapped oil and gas.
Republican Bob Beauprez, who is challenging Hickenlooper in November, argues the panel will only enable anti-fracking activists.
"John Hickenlooper knows full well, or ought to, that this panel will only serve as a stepping stone to the imposition of further debilitating regulations on an industry that is not only already well regulated, but critical to the economy of our state," Beauprez said in a statement.
Nearly 300 people applied to be on the fracking panel. Its members also include ranchers, attorneys and former elected officials, such as Bernie Buescher, the former Colorado secretary of state, and Russ George, the former speaker of the Colorado House. Rebecca Kourlis, the former justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, is also a panel member.
Hickenlooper will be issuing an executive order that will outline the responsibilities of the panel.
"My goal is to try and do everything I can to help them get to success," Hickenlooper said, adding that he will "probably do some sort of behind-the-scenes diplomacy."
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- By Ivan Moreno, AP Writer
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