WASHINGTON — Colorado voters could learn as early as Monday whether they will get a chance to vote this November on two anti-fracking ballot measures — a high-stakes fight that already has drawn notice from Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
Colorado’s Secretary of State is expected to announce this week whether environmentalists have submitted enough signatures to ask voters whether they want new restrictions that would limit — or fracking — a process in which energy companies pump water, sand and chemicals into the ground to extract oil and natural gas.
One measure would give local governments to regulate energy development; the other would prohibit new oil and gas facilities within 2,500 feet of homes and other .
None, one or both could make the ballot depending on whether supporters were able to gather enough signatures. A minimum of 98,492 signatures are required, and the state is in the process of conducting a random sample test of the petitions to determine whether they’ve met the threshold.
Supporters reportedly submitted more than 100,000 signatures for each proposal — though than that — and the slim margin could keep both measures off the ballot if too many signatures are ruled invaild.
“We are well over 100,000 on both those initiatives and we are waiting for the final number and tally to be verified by the Secretary of State’s office,” said Diana Best of Greenpeace, which helped gather signatures. “We are not in the clear and it’s not 100 percent but we feel very confident we have a shot at this.”
Expect a battle if either proposal makes the ballot. Oil and gas companies are to spend big, and the issue even has gotten some play in the presidential race.
During a recent trip to Colorado, Trump for at least one of the initiatives.
“Well, I’m in favor of fracking, but I think that voters should have a big say in it,” he told KUSA-Channel 9. “If a municipality or state wants to ban fracking, I can understand it.”
Afterward, questions lingered about whether Trump meant what he said — fueled by who said last week that the Republican candidate backed the energy industry.
Friday, Trump’s top campaign official in Colorado said the Republican candidate would like to see the anti-fracking measures defeated if they make the ballot.
“Mr. Trump supports fracking — itap part of his ‘all of the above’ energy plan — and he hopes the voters of Colorado also will vote in favor of fracking if they have a chance in November,” said Patrick Davis, Trump’s .
Asked to explain the earlier statement, Davis said Trump “was asked about a local issue he was not briefed on” and wanted to err on the side of giving voters the choice.
For her part, Clinton took steps to while she served as U.S. Secretary of State, but on the campaign trail she has said local communities to restrict the practice.
