In the Rockies today, reports reign supreme.

The Pew Charitable Trusts released a new report on the growth of clean-energy jobs that shows most of the Rocky Mountain West states enjoying phenomenal growth in that sector.

The Center for the American West released its online report on the history of and future for the oil-shale industry in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.

A report is expected out today on the fate of the 77 energy leases in Utah put on hold by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

And the University of Idaho is investigating why the results of a 1994 study that linked the transmission of disease from domestic sheep to bighorn sheep didn't come to light until now.

Rockies today

Clean-energy study ranks West the best in job growth
A study released Wednesday by The Pew Charitable Trusts that hand-counted the number of actual jobs in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia found that the clean-energy sector--clean energy, energy efficiency, environmentally-friendly production, conservation and pollution mitigation and training and support--added more jobs between 1998 and 2007 than any other sector of the economy, with Idaho first in the nation in the increase of such jobs.
NewWest.net; June 11
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Salazar announces arrest of 23 in looting of Four Corners sites
At a press conference Wednesday in Salt Lake City, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced that 23 people had been arrested in an ongoing investigation of looting of ancient sites in the Four Corners region, with most of those arrested living in Utah, some in Colorado and one living in New Mexico.
Salt Lake Tribune; June 11
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Report details the history of oil-shale debate in 3 Western states
A new online report issued by the Center for the American West at the University of Colorado at Boulder provides a history of oil-shale in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah and examines the future of the oil-shale industry in those states.
Grand Junction Sentinel; June 11
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Another group challenges decision to delist wolves in Idaho
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition has joined more than a dozen conservation groups filing lawsuits challenging the removal of gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act, though the Coalition's lawsuit is independent from the others and states that the wolf population simply isn't big or stable enough to justify delisting in Montana or Idaho.
Jackson Hole Daily; June 11
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University of Idaho scientist under investigation for bighorn research
The University of Idaho is investigating whether the head of its veterinary teaching and research center withheld a 1994 study that indicates bighorn sheep can contract diseases from domestic sheep, a contentious issue in a state that has struggled to decide if it should allow domestic sheep grazing on bighorn range land.
Idaho Statesman (AP); June 11
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Interior Dept. to release report on pulled Utah leases today
A report to be issued today on the 77 oil and gas leases in Utah put on hold by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says that some of those leases should never have been put up for auction, while others may be re-opened for drilling.
Salt Lake Tribune; June 11
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Owners say Mohave Generating Station in Nevada will be razed
Southern California Edison and other owners of the shuttered coal-fired Mohave Generating Station said the Nevada plant will be torn down, putting to rest concerns that it would once again be fired up.
Arizona Republic; June 11
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Beyond the Region

Obama administration to announce mountaintop-mining policy today
The change to policies regulating mountaintop mining set to be announced by the Obama administration today, will not end the practice of removing the tops of mountains to get at the coal beneath those peaks, but will instead work to mitigate the effects of that removal.
Washington Post; June 11
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Alaska poised to announce deal on natural gas pipeline
Alaska officials said a deal is imminent for Exxon Mobil Corp. and Alberta-based TransCanada Corp. to team up on a long sought-after pipeline to ship natural gas produced in Alaska's Prudhoe Bay 1,700 miles south to an existing pipeline hub in Alberta.
Calgary Herald (Reuters); June 11
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Cascade National Gas will move headquarters to Wash. city
Cascade Natural Gas Corp. officials announced that the company would move its headquarters from Seattle to the Tri-Cities, bringing 80 jobs to the area, although it's not known yet how many of those jobs will be filled by transferring employees.
Tri-City Herald; June 11
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In depth

Tab for repairing Sun Road in Glacier National Park snowballs
The Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park is open about a third of the year, and with the tab to repair stretches of the 50-mile road now at $180 million, and no promises that the upgrade will be the end of it, some are beginning to question if the money is well spent.
Missoula Independent; June 11
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