Laurissa Ward, left, and Kim Sever, both of Fort Collins, attend a rally for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum in Denver, July 29, 2016. Donald Trump held two events in Colorado.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A man has a confederate flag on his "Make America Great" hat during a Donald Trump rally at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum in Denver, July 29, 2016. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held two events in Colorado.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Michale McCray, of Castle Rock, wears his Donald Trump shirt he bought online, during a rally at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum in Denver, July 29, 2016. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held two events in Colorado.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
People wait for Donald Trump to arrive for a rally at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum in Denver, July 29, 2016. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held two events in Colorado.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Nick Towe arrives to a Donald Trump rally at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum in Denver, to sell Donald Trump merchandise, July 29, 2016.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
People gather for a rally, for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum in Denver, July 29, 2016. Donald Trump held two events in Colorado.
Stacie Scott, The Gazette via The Associated Press
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds baby cousins Evelyn Kate Keane, 6 months old, and Kellen Campbell, 3 months old, following his speech at the Gallogly Events Center at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs on Friday, July 29, 2016 in Colorado Springs.
Stacie Scott, The Gazette via The Associated Press
Violet Clarke leads a chant in protest of Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump outside the Gallogly Events Center at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, where Trump is holding a campaign, on Friday, July 29, 2016 in Colorado Springs.
Stacie Scott, The Gazette via The Associated Press
Protesters make peaceful chants toward supporters for Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump as the supporters wait in line to enter the Gallogly Events Center at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, for his campaign event on Friday, July 29, 2016 in Colorado Springs.
Jason Connolly, Getty Images
A supporter of US Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump shows off his loyalty by wearing a Donald Trump T-shirt while waiting in line for Trump's Town Hall address at the Gallogly Events Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado on July 29, 2016.
Evan Vucci, AP
Jim Bush of Colorado Springs, Colo., waits for the arrival of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to a campaign rally, Friday, July 29, 2016, in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Evan Vucci, The Associated Press
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Friday, July 29, 2016, in Colorado Springs.
Joe Mahoney, Getty Images
A supporter of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump waves an American flag at the Gallogly Event Center on the campus of the University of Colorado on July 29, 2016 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Trump rally came the day after Hillary Clinton accepted the Democratic nomination for president.
Jason Connolly, Getty Images
Supporters of US Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump recite the Pledge of Allegiance at Gallogly Events Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado on July 29, 2016, where Trump is holding a town hall meeting.
Jason Connolly, Getty Images
Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump addresses supporters at the Gallogly Events Center in Colorado Springs on July 29, 2016.
Jason Connolly, Getty Images
A supporter of US Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump holds up a sign while waiting for Trump to speak during a town hall address at Gallogly Events Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado on July 29, 2016.
Joe Mahoney, Getty Images
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at the Gallogly Event Center on the campus of the University of Colorado on July 29, 2016 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Jason Connolly, Getty Images
A supporter of US Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump cries during the recital of the Pledge of Allegiance at Gallogly Events Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado on July 29, 2016, where Trump is holding a town hall meeting.
Joe Mahoney, Getty Images
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump cheer while waiting for the candidate at the Gallogly Event Center on the campus of the University of Colorado on July 29, 2016 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Trump rally came the day after Hillary Clinton accepted the Democratic nomination for president.
Evan Vucci, AP
Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump reach out to shake hands during a campaign rally, Friday, July 29, 2016, in Colorado Springs, Colo.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
People line up for a Donald Trump rally at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum in Denver, July 29, 2016. Trump plans to speak to the crowd, at the museum, around 7 p.m. after he was at a rally in Colorado Springs.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, in Colorado Friday to speak in Denver and Colorado Springs, briefly touched on a local hot button issue — fracking.
During an interview with KUSA Channel 9’s Brandon Rittiman, Trump responded to direct questions on fracking.
“I’m in favor of fracking,” Trump said in a segment which was posted on Twitter, but he also said Friday that “voters should have a say” in whether to allow fracking locally.
In May, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled against Front Range municipalities efforts to limit oil and gas development in close proximity or residential areas, ruling state powers trump local measures in regulating the industry.
The court overturned Fort Collins’ five-year moratorium on fracking within the city limits, in part, citing municipal efforts as “invalid and unenforceable.”
“Fracking is something that we need. Fracking is something that is here whether we like it or not,” Trump said. “But if a municipality or a state wants to ban fracking I can understand that.”
Despite the court ruling, residents and environmental groups in Colorado continue to pursue measures in hope of slowing, or limiting, fracking. Meanwhile, the oil and gas industry in the state remains firm in its efforts to defend, and grow, fracking.
“Developing oil and gas resources in Colorado can be a complex issue that doesn’t lend itself well to sound bites,” said Dan Haley, president and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association, in a statement to The Denver Post. “In Colorado, the state Supreme Court has declared that local governments cannot ban fracking. Instead, the industry is regulated by the state under the most rigorous rules in the country.”
