In the Rockies today, the focus is on energy.

In Montana, a new sort of land rush is on as wind-generation companies seek to secure leases on lands in south-central Montana.

In Colorado, Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens shared his vision of the nation's energy future with members of the Colorado Gas & Oil Association on Thursday, which includes considerable expansion of the nation's wind-generation capabilities and using natural gas to power vehicles.

In Arizona, where the sun shines some 300 days a year, the Arizona State University built a new Solar Power Laboratory in the hope of capturing some of the business generated by solar-generation companies.

And while we're on the subject of energy, the Bureau of Land Management begins public meetings on developing the West's geothermal resources next week, with meetings scheduled in Reno on July 14; Salt Lake City on the 15th; Tucson on the 16th; and Cheyenne on the 17th.

Rockies today

Wind-generation companies rush to lease Montana lands
Wind development companies are courting landowners in southcentral Montana, where the potential for wind-generated energy is classified as "outstanding."
Billings Gazette; July 11
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Texas billionaire touts renewable resources to Colo. energy execs
At a news conference at the Colorado Oil & Gas Association's 20th annual Rocky Mountain Gas Strategy Conference & Investment Forum in Denver, Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens likened the United States' dependence on foreign oil to an addiction to drugs, and urged members of the association to ramp up renewable energy efforts.
Denver Rocky Mountain News; July 11
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E-T Energy unveils electric new way to pull oil from Alberta's oilsands
On Thursday, E-T Energy gave potential investors a tour of its expanded pilot project in Alberta's oilsands complex where electrodes heat the bitumen out of the rock, creating an underground pool of oil that will be pumped out of the ground over the next 250 days.
Calgary Herald; July 11
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ASU laboratory designed to bolster solar power in Arizona
Over the last year, at least nine companies have passed over Arizona for new solar-power technology facilities, opting instead to build them in other states, and Arizona State University officials hope its newly created Solar Power Laboratory will help attract such ventures to the state in the future.
Arizona Republic; July 11
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Colorado Wild warns of unintended consequences of Udall bill
U.S. Rep. Mark Udall's proposed amendment to the 1986 law governing ski-area permits on federal lands to provide other year-round outdoor recreational opportunities is too vague, said Colorado Wild Director Ryan Demmy Bidwell, and he said the amendment could open up such areas to such things as roller coasters and water parks.
Durango Herald; July 11
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N.M. national forest's plan closes half its roads to motorized travel
The Santa Fe National Forest is accepting public comment on its revised travel plan that proposed to prohibit motorized travel on more than half the existing roads in the 1.5-million acre forest.
Santa Fe New Mexican; July 11
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Scientists study effects of artificial flood in Grand Canyon
Scientists aren't yet ready to release the results of their study on the effect of the March 2008 release of water from Glen Canyon Dam into the Colorado River as it flows through the Grand Canyon, but others are saying the experiment restored sandbars needed for fish habitat.
Christian Science Monitor; July 11
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N.M. asks to join Desert Rock power plant lawsuit
On Thursday, the New Mexico attorney general and Department of Environmental Quality asked to intervene in a lawsuit filed by proponents of the proposed coal-fired Desert Rock power plant against the Environmental Protection Agency, with the N.M. state agencies protesting the July 31 deadline for the EPA to issue an air-quality permit for the plant on the grounds that it would violate the Endangered Species Act.
Durango Herald; July 11
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Opinion

N.M. budget surplus no windfall
Oil and gas revenues have pumped up New Mexico's bottom line to the turn of about $400 million, and lawmakers are already dreaming up ways to spend the "windfall," but it's no windfall, it's just plain old revenue for which there is already a need in unfunded highway projects, health care, and public education, and legislators should carefully consider how to spend the revenue which may, or may not, continue to flow into state coffers. You may have to view an ad to read this article.
Albuquerque Journal; July 11
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High fuel prices drill through objections to domestic energy production
Consumer pain at the pump appears to be fueling a new bipartisan effort on the nation's energy policies, including Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who stated for the record this week "...Democrats support domestic production," and it would behoove Congress to jump on the bipartisan bandwagon and promote not only domestic production but expansion of renewable energy efforts, before gas prices hit $6 a gallon and voters decide to make some changes of their own.
Arizona Republic; July 11
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Nevada water decision simply affirms good planning
The Nevada state engineer's decision to allow Southern Nevada Water Authority to pump an additional 6 billion gallons of groundwater per year from Cave, Dry Lake, and Delamar valleys in east central Nevada is a good one, given that SNWA purchased lands and accompanying water rights in those valleys at market rates.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; July 11
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Beyond the region

USDA considers putting CRP lands back into crop production
U.S. Department of Agriculture officials are said to be considering a plan to allow farmers to pull lands out of the Conservation Reserve Program and put them back into crop production, but environmentalists said that many of the CRP lands are in the program because they're fragile.
Washington Post; July 11
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Interior Dept. adds energy workers for Bakken Formation leases in N.D.
The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in western North Dakota lies atop the Bakken Formation, which reportedly contains millions of barrels of oil, and after N.D. Sen. Byron Dorgan chastised the Bureau of Indian Affairs for holding up leases on the reservation, the Interior Department announced it was adding nine workers to help manage energy leases and development on the reservation.
Helena Independent Record (AP); July 11
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Winds push Washington state wildfire across 1,200 acres
A fast-moving wildfire in Washington state's Spokane Valley quickly moved across 1,200 acres on Thursday, burning eight homes and forcing the evacuation of 200 residents.
Idaho Statesman (AP); July 11
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California wildfire continues to threaten Paradise
The 48,000-acre Butte Complex wildfire is California's top firefighting priority, threatening a number of tiny, backwoods towns.
Los Angeles Times; July 11
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White House pitches plan for takeover of Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the nation's two largest mortgage companies that have been hit hard by the nation's foreclosure crisis, and on Thursday the Bush administration laid out its plan to take over one or both of the companies and put them in a conservatorship.
New York Times; July 11
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EPA will ask for more public input on emissions' role in climate change
Despite pressure from the U.S. Supreme Court and federal officials to act now to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, the Environmental Protection Agency will announce today that it will continue to seek public comments on the threat climate change poses to human health and welfare.
Washington Post; July 11
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In depth

Census data tracks population shifts in Montana
New Census estimates released Thursday said Whitefish has been Montana's fastest-growing city since 2000, recording a 60.6 percent increase in population during that time; Billings remains the state's largest city, and Hysham, Flaxville and Medicine Lake reported the largest percentage decrease in their populations.
Billings Gazette (AP); July 11
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Star remains Idaho's fastest-growing community
Census Bureau estimates released Thursday indicated that Star was once again Idaho's fastest-growing community; Twin Falls is the state's fifth-largest city; and that the state's population gains slowed a bit between 2006 and 2007.
Twin Falls Times-News; July 11
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Latest Census report ranks Rio Rancho as 3rd largest N.M. city
The latest Census estimates said that Santa Fe is no longer New Mexico's third-largest city, with Rio Rancho climbing to that spot; Albuquerque remains the largest city, with Las Cruces coming in second. You may have to view an ad to read this article.
Albuquerque Journal; July 11
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