Prepare for fracking fatigue as rival sides dig in.

• Author: Rundles, Jeff
• Position: RUNDLES: WRAP UP

WHAT THE FRACK?

We'll all be asking that question with a sense of disbelief in the coming months as millions of ad dollars are poured out by pro-fracking forces and their opponents to convince Colorado voters that their side, and their side alone, represents truth, justice and The American Way. No matter what you believe, by November you'll look at "Frack" as the new "F" word, guaranteed. It'll be the subject to avoid in polite company.

It refers to hydraulic fracturing--an extraction technique that's all the rage right now, though it's been around in one form or another for about 70 years. Essentially, fracking involves injecting water, sand and chemicals at high pressure into existing oil and gas wells, which somehow loosens natural gas, unrecoverable through standard wells. The process is said to be generating a boom in the natural gas market.

There is a possibility (not known as of this writing) that Gov. John Flickenlooper will call for a special session of the state legislature to stem the need for voters to decide as many as nine fracking issues for the ballot this fall. The initiatives would allow for increased local control, and would change some existing setbacks to put more distance between a fracking site and a home. But organizing the session, let alone coming to any agreement, is still a long shot.

The pro fracking side--essentially the oil and gas industry--argues that fracking is safe, creates jobs, and is helping the United States produce more energy and become less dependent on foreign sources.

The anti-fracking side--essentially environmentalists --argues that fracking is not safe (contaminates drinking water, causes earthquakes, etc.) is mostly unregulated, and pushes the use of more fossil fuels, drawing resources and attention from developing "clean" energy like wind, solar and geothermal, etc.

There is kind of a third side--I'll call them the NIMBYs (Not In My Backyards)--who just don't want the...