PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF UNCONVENTIONAL GAS DEVELOPMENT IN COLORADO

The current boom in unconventional gas development in northeastern Colorado is bringing the industry closer to the densely populated Front Range. Production in the Niobrara shale play rose from 83,000 barrels in 2008 to over 4.1 million in 2012, with projections of the figure quadrupling by 2020. With prominent media coverage of a few local bans and moratoria on hydraulic fracturing and a state lawsuit against them, Colorado has become a test ground for multi-stakeholder negotiation between industry, advocacy groups, and government entities. This presentation engages in content and frame analysis of newspaper and online media to identify emerging patterns in public perceptions of unconventional gas development in Colorado, and then compares these findings with trends in national survey data.

Polls suggest that a slim majority of Coloradans support hydraulic fracturing in the state (51% in favor, 34% opposed and 15% undecided), with opinions strongly correlated with political identification, gender, and location. Residents of rural communities with direct experience and economic benefit from the industry are more likely to support unconventional gas development. The more urban and highly educated communities with moratoria or bans cite their primary concerns as human health and the environment. Front Range opposition groups plug into a national network of “fractivists” to share information, and present their position within an affective frame of responsible parenting. The correlation between rural and urban residency and expressed concerns mirrors broader national trends, but more research is needed to determine the relationship between opinions in Colorado and knowledge of the technical process and primary sources of information. Yet despite the sense of polarization conveyed in media coverage of the boom, the authors argue that divisions between communities and industry are not as entrenched as they appear. One municipality and one county, each characterized by a mix of industry proponents and opponents, have entered into Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with operators. These MOUs establish more stringent environmental standards but offer a quicker permitting process, and have been well-received by both residents and industry.