Gov. John Hickenlooper says he welcomes the increased production of natural gas in Colorado, but to protect human health and the environment.
Hickenlooper spoke Monday at the on shale energy. He is co-hosting the two-day forum with Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin in an attempt to on the controversial subject of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
It鈥檚 certainly a hot-button issue in Colorado, with residents trying to enact moratoria or outright bans on drilling in their communities.
At the conference, policy makers, energy executives, and regulators from around the country are expected to focus on how states can work together to establish pragmatic environmental safeguards.
Fallin, who is considered a proponent of 鈥渟afe fracking,鈥� cited a recent study by that found the energy boom has led to 2.1 billion jobs nationwide and added more than $280 billion to the GDP.
Fallin says continuing to will reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, while at the same time generating more revenue for state and local governments.
The conference on shale energy wraps up Tuesday in Broomfield.
