AURORA | Coloradan voters rejected Proposition 112, a setback between fracking and locations like homes and watersheds, on Tuesday.
About 57 percent of Coloradans voted against the measure, compared to about 43 percent of voters in favor.
If approved, Prop 112 would have required that occupied buildings and areas deemed “vulnerable” be kept a minimum of 2,500 feet away from oil and gas development, including drilling and pipelines.
“The movement to protect Colorado communities is stronger than ever and its growing,” said Colorado Rising spokesperson Russell Mendell. “Oil and gas spent over $50 million on 74 and 112 combined, because they realized they were up against a passionate and powerful grassroots cause, that can and will win. We came up just short, but we are not backing down.”
Pro-industry groups spent millions on advertising campaigns against Prop 112. Protect Colorado, a group funded by the groups like the Colorado Petroleum Council and oil and gas operators including Noble Energy and Anadarko Petroleum, amassed almost $40 million this campaign cycle, according to October 29 campaign filings.
Colorado Rising raised almost one million dollars as of October 29.
Prop 112 is the latest in a long battle between a oil and gas interests and some Colorado residents and environmentalists. The Front Range in particular has become a flashpoint as suburban development collided with oil and gas development of the Wattenberg shale formation.
Activists tried to place similar measures on the ballot in 2014 and 2016. Mendell said there were no plans to put the measure back on the ballot in future election cycles.