By Amy Harder | Axios
A fight underway here in Colorado over a ballot initiative curtailing oil and gas drilling is NIMBYism at its most stark.
Why it matters:NIMBYism — “not in my backyard” opposition — is as old as time and often has a negative reputation. But in the case of Colorado, it shouldn’t. It’s the surprisingly simple result of a growing population and oil drilling encroaching on each other. It’s a national symbol of both the economic benefits of drilling and its understandable drawbacks to nearby neighborhoods.
Driving the news: Coloradans are set to vote on a ballot initiative Election Day that would ban drilling within 2,500 feet — nearly a half-mile — from buildings and some green spaces. That’s up from a current limit of 500 feet.
Internal polling conducted on behalf of the state’s oil industry and not previously disclosed shows the initiative is likely to pass with around 60% support.