Capitol Conversation: What’s Next in Oil & Gas?

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Governor John Hickenlooper’s oil and gas task force recently proposed nine recommendations to try and easy concerns for people living near energy development, but it did not vote to give local communities more control over oil and gas drilling.

Many state lawmakers were waiting on recommendations before introducing energy related bills.

As part of our Capitol Conversation series, Bente Birkeland takes a look ahead with Ivan Moreno of the Associated Press and Peter Marcus with the Durango Herald.

Here are two highlights from the conversation:

What’s next for the state legislature and for a possible anti-fracking initiative going before voters in 2016?

Ivan Moreno - Associated Press:

“Democrats who have been vocal about wanting to have more local control over this activity, they may propose some legislation there. But it’s going to be a challenge because at the end of the day Republicans still control the Senate, and they have said repeatedly that there’s no need for more regulations.”

Peter Marcus- Durango Herald

“I think it’s important to also point out the tenacity of the anti-fracking crowd. We keep talking about U.S. Representative and his funding the initiatives. With or without Polis’ money, these so-called fracktivists are going to be going to the ballot.”