Colorado Gearing Up for Fracking Ballot Measures

Coloradans are poised to vote on multiple ballot measures related to fracking and other forms of energy development this fall, setting up a bitter and expensive election fight.

With a deadline looming Monday to qualify measures for Colorado's November ballot, three initiatives already have enough signatures to appear before voters, backers say.

Two measures supported by environmental groups would require new oil and gas wells to be drilled at least 2,000 feet from homes and schools, and give local governments more power to regulate energy projects.

A third initiative, supported by the oil-and-gas industry, would bar communities that prohibit energy development from receiving industry revenue administered by the state.

The initiatives to r