In the Rockies today, the results of a three-year study of energy development and its effect on sage grouse and other species in the West is out.
The study conducted by researchers from the Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society and University of Montana used Bureau of Land Management projections on new energy permits in Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and North and South Dakota.
They plugged in the most likely locations of the estimated 96,000 new oil and gas wells to be drilled over the next two decades and overlaid that information with data on known sage-grouse habitat to arrive at the conclusion that future energy development could affect 11.8-million acres of sagebrush shrub and grassland habitat.
The number of sage grouse in Wyoming and other Western states has been in decline for years, and the Obama administration has a February deadline on whether to list the species for protection.
Such a listing would not only impact oil and gas development, but also wind projects as well as transmission-line projects.
In Bozeman tonight, the National Parks Conservation Association and the Big Sky Institute at Montana State University hosts a speech by
Ernie Niemi, a leading expert on the economic impacts of climate change.
The presentation begins at 7 p.m. at the Bozeman Public Library.
Rockies today
Wyoming governor: Treat wind energy the same as other sources
Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal said he believes wind energy should be treated just like other energy resources, and that revenues from a tax on wind energy should flow to the counties.
Casper Star-Tribune; Oct. 29
Nevada water decision gives foes of Utah-Nevada pact hope
The opponents of the water agreement between Nevada and Utah on sharing Snake Valley water said they believed a decision by a Nevada state district court judge that struck down a 2008 decision allowing Southern Nevada Water Authority to pipe water from three valleys in central Lincoln County would make the Snake Valley proposal economically unfeasible.
Salt Lake Tribune; Oct. 29
Wyoming test ground for balancing energy, sage grouse needs
A new study found energy development had a considerable impact on sage grouse numbers and recommended taking aggressive measures to protect sensitive areas from drilling; the three-year study estimated that future energy development could be greatly impacted if sage grouse are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.
New York Times (Greenwire); Oct. 22
Montana county officials question Baucus' support of forest bill
County commissioners from Beaverhead and Madison counties said they were surprised by the announcement that Montana Sen. Max Baucus had signed on as a co-sponsor of Sen. Jon Tester's Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, as Baucus had assured them that he would not support the bill until they were comfortable with the terms of it--and they're not there yet.
Helena Independent Record (AP); Oct. 29
Documentary traces path, demands on West's Green River
The Green River travels 730 miles from its headwaters in Wyoming, down through Colorado and Utah, where it merges with the Colorado River near Moab, and may be the West's best source of untapped water, and a documentary, "Green River: Divided Waters" traces the river's history and its contested future.
Salt Lake Tribune; Oct. 29
Western Republicans oppose Salazar's order on climate change
Utah U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch and U.S. Reps. Utah Reps. Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz, along with 13 other Republican lawmakers from the West charged that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's "Secretarial Order" issued in September that created a Climate Change Response Council and allows Interior agencies to address carbon emissions is an attempt by the administration to do an end run around Congress on climate change.
Salt Lake Tribune; Oct. 29
Montana delegation supports renewal of conservation incentives
Montana's U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester, U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg and Gov. Brian Schweitzer all support legislation that will renew federal conservation tax incentives that expire at the end of this year.
Helena Independent Record; Oct. 29
Opinion
Arizona's senators should consider sponsoring solar roadmap bill
The U.S. House approved legislation last week to create a "Solar Technology Roadmap" that will focus much needed funding on an important renewable energy resource, and while none of Arizona's members of the House supported the bill, Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl should give serious consideration to doing just that.
Arizona Republic; Oct. 29
Crown of the Continent good testing ground for regional governance
The 10-million acre Crown of the Continent region that sweeps across southern Alberta, British Columbia, and northwestern Montana falls under the jurisdiction of 19 different governments, and would be a wonderful setting to test transboundary cooperation to address land and water issues. A guest column by Matthew McKinney, director of the Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Policy at the University of Montana.
Planetizen.com; Oct. 29
Beyond the region
AP analysis finds stimulus-created jobs overcounted
The Associated Press reviewed data from the first reports filed on federal stimulus spending, and found that the federal government overstated by thousands the number of jobs created or saved with federal stimulus funds, including in Colorado, where Englewood-based Tele Tech Government Solutions said 4,231 jobs were created, a figure that has been downsized to fewer than 1,000.
Denver Post (AP); Oct. 29
Report details costs of meeting Canada's climate-change goals
A study paid for by the Toronto Dominion Bank and performed by two environmental groups found that Canada's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 can be met, with oil and gas producing provinces being impacted the most.
Toronto Globe and Mail; Oct. 29
House speaker to unveil health care bill with public option today
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to offer health care legislation today that includes a public option, along with a historic expansion of Medicaid.
Washington Post; Oct. 29
Seed-processing plant up and running in Washington city
Syngenta's seed-processing facility in Pasco is one of just two in the United States, and the Washington state facility will provide 30 full-time jobs and an additional 100 during sweet corn harvest.
Tri-City Herald; Oct. 29
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