Loveland pro-oil and gas group expands countywide

The Loveland Energy Action Project, which helped defeat a proposed hydraulic fracturing ban in June, has expanded its reach countywide to become the Larimer Energy Action Project.

Co-directors, former Rep. BJ Nikkel, R-Loveland, and former president of the Fort Collins Board of Realtors Jeffery Martin convened the first meeting of the new LEAP steering committee this month to discuss how the group can advocate for responsible energy development throughout Larimer County.

The nonpartisan group hopes to build upon its past successes, using what it learned in Loveland to broaden its coalition. The group wants to combat what it calls “misinformation about fracking” by informing people about the drilling technique in Larimer County.

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Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves pumping water, sand and chemicals deep underground to release oil and gas natural gas from dense shale formations.

LEAP spearheaded a campaign against a proposed oil and gas ban narrowly defeated by Loveland voters in June last year.

“Even though the wind is at our back it is so important that we not let our guard down,” Nikkel said in a statement. “There are still activists out there who would love to drive oil and gas development out of Larimer County and out of Colorado.”

The announcement comes two days after a coalition of activist groups formed Coloradans Against Fracking, which aims to ban fracking in the state. The coalition contends fracking harms human health and the environment, while the oil and gas industry contends that fracking is safe.