Updated: 8/1/16 11:41 a.m.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump visited Colorado on Friday and said he supports the practice of hydraulic fracturing of oil and natural gas wells.

But he also favors the ability of communities to ban the practice, known as fracking.

In an interview with KUSA-TV’s Brandon Rittiman, Trump said he favors fracking, but understands that some areas may not want to have it nearby.

Banning fracking should be an option, he added, depending on the specifics of the situation.

“Fracking is something we need,” Trump said. “Fracking is something that’s here, whether we like it or not. But if a municipality or state wants to ban fracking, I can understand that.”

Lem Smith, president of the Colorado Petroleum Association, said Saturday that he felt the fracking question by Rittiman “lacked the appropriate context.”

“Mr. Trump probably isn’t aware that the Colorado Supreme Court has already ruled that fracking bans are not allowed,” Smith said. “Mr. Trump is absolutely correct to say local communities should have a lot of input and the [Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission] does just that.”

But Smith said anti-fracking backers “should not be able to mask that local input as support for outright bans.”

In May, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled against the cities of Fort Collins and Longmont, where citizens had voted for fracking moratoriums.

Pete Maysmith, executive director of Conservation Colorado, wasn’t surprised at Trump’s stance on fracking and added “he is wrong on virtually everything that has to do with the environment.”

“He denies climate change even exists, which is just preposterous,” Maysmith added. “It would be nice to see Mr. Trump acknowledge climate change, but we haven’t heard that yet. I guess every stopped watch has to get it right every once in a while.”

In a statement released Saturday, Dan Haley, president and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association, noted that “Developing oil and gas resources in Colorado can be a complex issue that doesn’t lend itself well to sound bites.”

“In Colorado, the state Supreme Court has declared that local governments cannot ban fracking,” his statement read. “Instead, the industry is regulated by the state under the most rigorous rules in the country.

Smith said the CPA will reach out to the campaigns of both Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to educate them on fracking and the oil and gas industry’s history in Colorado.

“There are always regional differences with the industry and it’s use of fracking,” Smith added. “In regions where the industry has had a long presence, you find people are more aware. It’s up to the industry to educate folks about these issues, just as we’ve been doing for the last 18 years.”

Fracking has been a political issue in Colorado and elsewhere for some time, including recent protests against the pro-fracking stance by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper during his speech at the Democratic National Convention and an energy policy forum in Philadelphia. Hickenlooper is a former geologist who helped locate oil and gas drilling operations in Colorado.

Signatures are also being gathered to place two ballot measures before voters this fall that would place restrictions on the oil and gas industry.