Do I have a choice or any say on whether fracking takes place in my community?
Maybe not. In Colorado and many other jurisdications, the oil/gas industry has used its tremendous wealth and influence to have special interest provisions added to states' constitutions giving itself special preference and rights above all other constitutional provisions, such as those protecting local home rule, the environment, or the general health and welfare of citizens. Various moratoria and bans passed by communities on behalf of their citizens to regulate or slow down the spread of fracking have been challenged in court. The oil/gas industry has tremendous resources to purchase, influence or intimidate media, public opinion, politicians, government agencies, and our democratic political process.
(Sources: Common Cause / Huffington Post / polluterwatch.com / The Coloradoan)