Anti-fracking initiatives fare well in Colorado
Voters in three Colorado cities passed initiatives against fracking.
Voters in three Colorado cities passed initiatives against fracking this week, paving the way for a statewide referendum on the drilling technique, which uses water and chemicals to break open dense rocks and extract oil and natural gas. Residents of Boulder and Fort Collins voted to place a five-year moratorium on in-town fracking, and Lafayette voters banned the practice outright; a ban barely failed in Broomfield. Energy trade groups vastly outspent anti-fracking activists in a vain bid to quell fears of contaminated water and earthquakes. “The good people of Fort Collins feel like we need to make a strong statement about our health and the health of our children,” said anti-fracking organizer John Gascoyne.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Why is the Democratic Party's favorability rating so low?
Talking Points Voters do not like Republican policies. They like Democrats even less.
-
Clean energy tax credits are going away. Here's how to get them before it's too late.
The Explainer Trump's recently passed megabill promises the early demise of clean energy tax credits
-
Critics' choice: Delights from the African diaspora
Feature Mahari in Chicago, Kabawa in New York City and Elmina in Washington, D.C.
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: which party are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?