Colorado Votes on Fracking Ban as US Methane Emissions Soar
A new study reveals a significant increase in methane emissions from the US oil and gas industry. Meanwhile, Colorado voters will soon decide on Proposition 112, which aims to restrict fracking due to health and safety concerns.
The study, published recently, shows that the US oil and gas industry annually releases over 13 million metric tons of methane, a 60% increase from previous estimates. This is alarming, given methane's potent role in climate change. Colorado, the seventh-largest oil producer and fifth-biggest natural gas supplier, has over 55,000 active wells, nearly half of which were fracked in the last decade.
Fracking, which accelerated under the Bush-Cheney era and boomed under Obama, has led to a surge in oil production. In Colorado alone, oil production quadrupled between 2010 and 2018, reaching record highs. However, this growth has raised concerns about health and safety. A study from the Colorado School of Public Health found that people living within 2,500 feet of wells are more likely to develop serious health issues. The 2017 explosion in Firestone, caused by a leaking fracking well, underscores these risks.
On November 6, Colorado voters will decide on Proposition 112. If passed, it would establish a 2,500-foot buffer from occupied structures and vulnerable areas, preventing fracking on almost 85% of private land. Supporters hope this will halt fracking, particularly in growing suburbs, due to health concerns related to noxious emissions and cancer-causing chemicals. The Wattenberg field, under metropolitan Denver, is a prime example, with over 23,000 active wells producing vast amounts of gas and oil daily.
The US oil and gas industry's methane emissions have surged, raising climate change concerns. Colorado voters now face a crucial decision on Proposition 112, which could significantly restrict fracking due to health and safety worries. The outcome will shape Colorado's energy future and set a precedent for other states.
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