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The
group, Colorado Rising, had been exploring several ballot
initiatives to place more stringent regulations on oil and gas
drilling in Colorado, the fifth-largest U.S. oil-producing
state, after its 2018 effort failed.
A California initiative seeking to raise the state's cap on
medical pain and suffering damages to $1.2 million from $250,000
was pushed to 2022 over the pandemic.
The group leading the initiative, Consumer Watchdog, collected
signatures but will defer filing so voters do not have to make
decisions amid the health crisis, President Jamie Court said.
"We have concerns about volunteers," said Joe Salazar, Colorado
Rising's executive director, referring to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He added, "we've run out of time" to employ electronic gathering
methods, the rules for which are still being developed by the
state.
Colorado Rising was behind a 2018 initiative proposing to
increase the distance between new oil and gas drilling and
public parks and schools.
That measure drew fierce opposition from oil companies that
spent millions of dollars to block it, arguing it would hurt the
state's economy. It failed with only 43% votes in favor.
The group's decision comes as the U.S. oil industry is scaling
back drilling due to record inventories, falling demand and
prices amid the pandemic. The number of fracking fleets working
in the United States has fallen to 58 from more than 400 a year
ago, according to consultancy Primary Vision.
Denver-based Liberty Oilfield Services, a fracking provider, cut
nearly 50% of its staff, and shale producer Whiting Petroleum
filed for bankruptcy. Colorado's active frack units have fallen
to roughly one from nine in mid-April.
(Reporting by Liz Hampton; Editing by Stephen Coates)
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