Pro-fracking petition in Ft. Collins with fake signatures embarrasses Colorado Gas & Oil Association

150 Replies

By John Upton  coloradoan.com

The oil and gas industry’s amateur attempt to mislead Fort Collins lawmakers.

Outlawing fracking in Fort Collins makes local business owners sad. At least, that’s what liars working for the Colorado Oil and Gas Association tried to tell local lawmakers.

Anders’ Auto Glass, Meneike Car Care Center, and Computer Renaissance were among 55 businesses whose names appeared with signatures on a petition that the association submitted to Fort Collins City Council. The petition urged city councilors to vote against a proposed ban on fracking within the city.

The petition failed. Following a two-hour Feb. 19 hearing, the council voted 5-2 to ban hydraulic fracturing in Fort Collins.

But it turns out that none of those three businesses support fracking in their town, they told Fort Collins Coloradoan reporter Bobby Magill. Why on earth would they?

Following up on a tip, Magill hit the phone and reached 33 of the businesses listed on the petition. A full two-thirds of those denied signing or endorsing a petition opposing a ban on fracking in Fort Collins. Not only was the petition a big fat lie, it was a laughably amateur effort to deceive the city’s lawmakers. From the Coloradoan:

Cali Rastrelli’s name is signed at the bottom of a petition submitted to the council. At the top, the petition says in bold letters, “Vote NO on the Fort Collins fracking ban.”

“Big Bill Pizza” is written in the blank where the signer could enter their business or organization.

“I haven’t signed any petition in the last month,” said Rastrelli, a Colorado State University student who lives in student housing. “I didn’t put my name on this. I’m not sure why somebody would have thought to sign my name.”

Big Bill Pizza, Rastrelli’s former employer, is in Centennial, and staff there were unaware of an effort to ban fracking in Fort Collins, said manager Leonna Gara.

Whoever signed Rastrelli’s name spelled it “Rasterelli.”

“I don’t know why I would have misspelled my own name,” she said.

The signatures were reportedly gathered by consulting company EIS Solutions. Memo to EIS and the Colorado Oil and Gas Association: Astroturfing shouldn’t be this hard! Hell, an intern going door to door with a bag of tacky corporate gifts and some printed propaganda should be able to return to the office with actual petition signatures.

By the end of last week, the association was acknowledging that “mistakes were made.” A subsequent internal audit “identified numerous areas for improvement.” Now association officials are trying to retract the petition. And they are failing. From Magill’s latest article:

“COGA has ascertained we made mistakes in the collection of signatures on a petition submitted to City Council last week opposing a ban on hydraulic fracturing,” COGA President and CEO wrote in an email to the council on Monday. “As a result, we withdraw that petition from the record.”

But Fort Collins city officials will not remove it from the public record, said Rita Harris, deputy Fort Collins city clerk.

“We’re not giving it back,” she said.

Once a petition is part of public record, it can’t be withdrawn, said City Councilman Gerry Horak.

If the oil and gas guys can’t get something like this right, why should they expect anybody to trust them to inject poisonous chemicals into their soil?

Thanks Bobby Magill, environmental reporter, for your responsible investigative reporting.

http://grist.org/news/co-fracking-petition-a-fraud/

 

150 thoughts on “Pro-fracking petition in Ft. Collins with fake signatures embarrasses Colorado Gas & Oil Association”

  2. cheap jordans

    Read reviews and was a little hesitant since I had already inputted my order. or simply but thank god, I had no issues. cherish the received item in a timely matter, they are in new condition. direction so happy I made the purchase. Will be definitely be purchasing again.
    cheap jordans https://www.realjordansretro.com/

    Reply ↓
  27. Copper billet production

    Copper scrap distribution Copper has been a valuable metal for thousands of years, and its importance only continues to grow in the modern age. With the world transitioning towards a greener future, copper is set to play a crucial role in the energy sector. From producing electricity to powering electric vehicles, copper is an essential component in the modern world’s energy infrastructure. One of the most significant ways copper is used in the energy sector is in the production of electricity. Copper wiring is used to connect power plants to the grid, and it is used extensively in power transmission and distribution. Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity, and with the growing demand for renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, the need for copper in the energy sector will only grow. Another area where copper plays a crucial role in the energy transition is electric vehicles. Electric vehicles use a lot of copper in their motors, batteries, and charging systems. Copper has excellent thermal conductivity, making it ideal for use in electric vehicle batteries, which generate a lot of heat. Copper is also used in charging stations, where it helps to reduce energy loss and charges electric vehicles quickly and efficiently. Copper’s ability to conduct heat and electricity also makes it valuable in the energy storage industry. Copper is used extensively in batteries and other energy storage systems, allowing energy to be stored efficiently and safely. Energy storage is becoming increasingly important as countries worldwide move towards renewable energy sources, which are known for their intermittency and fluctuating power output. Copper is also used in renewable energy technologies like solar and wind power. Solar panels use copper strips to capture and transmit solar energy into usable electricity, while wind turbines require copper to generate electricity from wind energy. As countries continue to invest in renewable energy, the demand for copper in these technologies will only grow. The future of copper in the energy transition is bright. As the world moves towards a greener future, copper will continue to be a key player in the energy sector. With its excellent conductivity and ability to store and transmit energy efficiently, copper will remain a vital component in the production and distribution of renewable energy Scrap metal reclamation and trading Copper scrap price analysis Copper scrap briquetting Copper scrap reprocessing Copper scrap chemical treatment Scrap metal traders

    Reply ↓
  28. Scrap Copper prices

    Copper scrap environmental stewardship Copper has been mined and used for thousands of years for various purposes such as ornaments, weapons, and utensils. The earliest evidence of copper mining dates back to ancient Egypt in 4,000 BC. Copper was considered a precious metal and was used for religious and decorative purposes. The first large-scale copper mining operation began in Spain in the 9th century BC. Copper became a major industry in ancient Greece, and the Romans later developed the technology for extracting copper on a large scale. During the Middle Ages, copper mining continued to expand throughout Europe, with mines in Germany, Sweden, and Norway. Copper was also mined in North America by indigenous peoples, and later by European colonizers. In the Americas, the first major copper mining operation was established in Chile in the 16th century. Copper mining boomed in the United States during the Industrial Revolution, with mines opening up in Michigan and Montana. Today, copper mining is a global industry, with major producers located in Chile, Peru, and the United States. Copper is used in a wide range of applications, including electrical wiring, plumbing, and electronics. Despite its importance, copper mining can have significant environmental impacts, including soil and water contamination, deforestation, and habitat destruction. However, modern mining practices aim to minimize these impacts through careful management and monitoring. In recent years, copper mining has faced challenges from declining ore grades and increasing costs of extraction. However, as demand for copper continues to grow, new technologies and exploration efforts may pave the way for more sustainable and efficient mining operations in the future Market intelligence for scrap metal business Scrap Copper recycling machines Copper scrap product development Secondary copper sourcing Regulatory compliance for copper recycling Metal reclamation management

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.