Recently the city of Longmont, Colorado took some sensible measures to protect their health and safety. They passed a measure that included banning fracking in local residential neighborhoods and requiring that companies disclose any hazardous materials being transported on city roads.

Fracking, i.e. hydraulic fracturing, is a method of extracting natural gas from deep deposits underground by injecting huge volumes of chemical-laced water under tremendous pressure. From well blowouts to methane seepage to contaminated groundwater—fracking is inadequately regulated and downright dangerous. But Governor Hickenlooper is taking the position that communities like Longmont shouldn't be able to protect themselves through local regulations. In fact, he's taking the unprecedented step of suing the city of Longmont to get them to lift the ban.

Fracking is not a climate solution. Recent studies have shown that emissions from hydrofracked natural gas are particularly high (100-300% higher than coal), and methane is over 20 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Moreover, by "externalizing" pollution costs onto communities, low natural gas prices depress demand for renewables energy.

Tell Governor Hickenlooper: Let Longmont ban fracking! State government should protect citizens and communities from destructive industries—or at the very least allow them to protect themselves.