Colorado activists drop fracing curbs in deal with lawmakers

DENVER, Colorado (Bloomberg) -- Colorado energy drilling backers and opponents, agreeing to avoid an election showdown over an industry worth $30 billion a year to the state, dropped rival measures to restrict fracing and punish towns that curb it. Activists dropped proposals limiting fracing by requiring that it take place 2,000 ft from any occupied building as pro-energy state lawmakers ended a separate bid to deny tax revenue to cities that impose moratoriums or bans. The deal came after Governor John Hickenlooper negotiated a compromise creating a task force to study the industry’s impact on communities.

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