Fracking campaign finance dispute heads to court

An administrative law judge in Denver is hearing a complaint alleging that a group promoting fracking limits isn’t properly disclosing its source of money.

The complaint being heard Wednesday seeks to force the group Coloradans for Safe and Clean Energy to disclose the source of a donation worth $1.45 million. A rival group aligned with the oil and gas industry has argued that Democratic Rep. Jared Polis is backing the group.

Coloradans for Safe and Clean Energy is an issue committee. It supports ballot initiatives to curb the drilling practice of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The group wants to see possible votes to give local governments more ability to regulate oil and gas drilling. Another measure would increase the distance required between oil and gas drilling and homes.