It’s time to Phase Out Fracking!
Safe & Healthy Colorado is bringing a statewide ballot initiative to phase out all new fracking permits by 2030. This is currently our leading option to transform Colorado from one of the nation’s largest GHG polluters to a global leader in the transition away from fossil fuels and toward a just, thriving, Renewable Energy future.
To get on the 2024 Colorado statewide ballot, they need to collect well over 135,000 signatures from Coloradan registered voters.
Making your commitment now by completing the Pledge to Sign will make it easy for Safe & Healthy Colorado to contact you in 2024 when the ballot petition is ready for signatures at a convenient location near you. You can also endorse the ballot language as a faith leader or organization.
With your support, a cleaner, more just energy future is possible!
Endorsed by 350 Colorado, Th!rd Act, Extinction Rebellion, Colorado Jewish Climate Action, Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, Wild Earth Guardians, Womxn From the Mountain, and many other climate organizations and leaders.
Pledge to Sign the ballot measure to phase out new fracking projects.
Gathering Pledges to Sign will help to ensure we can gather 200K signatures – includes buffer to ensure 125K valid signatures – needed in the short timeframe allotted and to save $ on a signature gathering firm. By pledging now, you can be a part of this powerful effort to protect Colorado’s land, air, water, public health, AND help keep fossil fuels in the ground.
Support the Phase Out Fracking Initiative Today
Add your name as a Faith Leader endorsing the Phase Out Fracking ballot initiative.
Faith leaders hold a vital role in guiding the spiritual compass of Colorado’s communities. The process of oil and gas extraction significantly contributes to climate change, creating a considerable threat to the Earth that our future generations will inherit and great suffering to people around the world. This is why your endorsement for a ballot initiative to phase out fracking after 2030 in Colorado is of such importance.
Endorse the Ballot Language as a Faith Leader
The Benefits to Phasing Out Fracking
Reducing Air Pollution
Oil and gas fracking is the #1 source of pollution in Colorado causing the climate crisis and the ‘severe’ ozone air quality issues along Colorado’s front range, including those that cause respiratory problems like asthma, heart attacks and premature death. Phasing out fracking means cleaner air in Colorado.
Protecting frontline communities
Fracking contaminates our communities with toxic chemicals in the air and water, even miles away from the fracking site. Phasing out fracking means cleaner communities across Colorado.
Cleaner and more abundant water
Each fracked well consumes 5-10 million gallons of fresh water, which is made so toxic it is typically removed from the water cycle. Phasing out fracking means cleaner and more abundant water, all across the state.
More clean energy jobs, and more money in Coloradans’ pockets.
Pollution emitted by oil and gas operations in Colorado costs us a billion dollars a year in pollution and clean-up costs, and chains us to a 20th Century industry. Colorado is already a leader in the clean energy economy – phasing out fracking will help us continue that leadership and create jobs across the state.
Keep Colorado a leader in taking on climate change.
Colorado has long led the way in protecting the environment and transitioning to renewable energy. The oil and gas industry is the #1 remaining source of Colorado’s climate pollution. It’s time we take the next step in leading the way for a livable planet.
Why wait until 2030 to stop permitting new fracking? Why not sooner?
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The measure will be on the Nov. 2024 ballot. Assuming it wins, state regulators will have until 2025 (~1 year) to make plans for a phase out of new permits.
- The ballot measure requires that the number of new permits for fracking must begin to decrease in 2026 and must continue to decrease further each year thereafter, so that after 2030 there will be no new permits
- The ballot initiative requires permits to decrease in disproportionately impacted areas first, and includes support for a just transition, training, and reskilling for affected workers.
Why should I support a phase out of fracking permits by 2030? Why not 2040 or 2050 for the phase out?
- While a 2040 or 2050 date would allow for a more gradual phase out, the 2030 date aligns more closely with what scientists from the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Energy Agency, and others have called for to prevent the most catastrophic climate impacts of global heating
- The oil and gas industry is also Colorado’s biggest sources of ozone pollution, resulting in ‘severe’ ozone rating along the Front Range from the EPA, and an ‘F-grade’ by the American Lung Association for many counties. This harms our health, resulting in more asthma, heart attacks, premature deaths, and other health costs for Coloradans.
- Despite industry claims, oil & gas contributes less than 1% of total employment in Colorado and only about 3% of our GDP, while pollution from oil & gas operations in Colorado will cause over $13 billion in damages between 2020 and 2030 (1.5 times the total taxes and fees oil & gas brings to Colorado).
Check out the full FAQ page at Safe & Healthy Colorado.