Hundreds of oil and gas industry supporters rallied Tuesday at the state capitol, calling for an end to local battles over how drilling is regulated, and asking for support for an industry they say is improving Colorado's economy.

"We have dealt with challenging issues before," said Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce CEO Kelly Brough. "This is no more complex or difficult to solve... but 'us and them' never works."

Brough said that while misinformation has floated around the issues of hydraulic fracturing in oil and gas development, the reality is the industry pumped $1.1 billion into government coffers in 2010.

"It is our future to economic prosperity," Brough said.

Several small groups of anti-fracking demonstrators

Sandy Toland, left, of Aurora and Sonia Skakich Scrima founder of "What the Frack?! Arapahoe", center, at the rally at the Colorado Capitol's west steps in Denver on Tuesday. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

Loud laughter overpowered the speech of Justin Williams, owner of Colorado-based Lone Star Energy, as he said the industry creates more jobs and a better economy that "will trickle down to attorneys, doctors" and all local government.

Firestone Mayor Chad Auer lauded the state's regulatory process and its rules that still allow his local government a say over certain issues.

"Nonsense! People have a say, too," hecklers yelled.

"I firmly believe the process works," Auer said. He encouraged other communities to work within that framework instead of turning to "a battle of authority and emotion."

The rally also made a point of emphasizing the need to protect property rights.

"We want our land and our property rights," said Amy Williams, representing Citizens Supporting Property Rights.

Williams said Routt County farmers and landowners were "culturally patient and polite," causing them to remain silent when a small group worked to place added restrictions on how drilling was permitted in the county.

But that, she said, has been an infringement on their property rights to decide what to do with their own land.

As Williams was talking, another protestor asked, "What about my right to breathe the air?"

Conservation Colorado organizer Charlie Montgomery said his group's primary concern with fracking is for the long-term public health and ability for communities to grow.

"Fracking and drilling is a heavy industry," Montgomery said. "We want to have it away from people."

Montgomery would like to see drilling operations as far as 1,000 feet away from schools and communities.

Longmont voters approved ban on oil and gas drilling approved by voters during this past election has ignited anti-fracking groups including those in Aurora, Commerce City, Denver, Fort Collins, Lafayette and Louisville to push for similar local prohibitions.

On the other hand, South Metro Denver chamber CEO John Brackney said the next step is to get communities to sign a charter that would solidify their commitment to respect state regulations.

The charter would more formally delineate the authority local governments do have, such as to control some noise, lighting, road use and parking, but would have them do so through the process already in place through the state.

"This doesn't have to be adversarial. We all want to make sure we do this responsibly, and we all want jobs," Brackney said. "Without consistency, we might just lose the industry to another state."

Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1372, yrobles@denverpost.com or twitter.com/yeseniarobles