** Oil crash threatens Western communities and lands
------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Oil rig in Colorado ([link removed])
As international market forces cause oil prices ([link removed]) to plummet, communities in the West will feel the effects. Oil companies in the S&P 500 are down between 10 and 40 percent ([link removed]) , and companies are already scaling back production ([link removed]) in the Permian Basin. The crash will likely lead to bankruptcies among small producers ([link removed]) , resulting in additional abandoned wells
on public lands. Previous analysis ([link removed]) by ECONorthwest found that cleanup for wells on federal lands could cost up to $6.1 billion, far exceeding the $162 million in reclamation bonds provided by operators. Taxpayers could be left on the hook for cleanup costs, highlighting the risks of depending on a boom and bust extraction economy.
The potential significant effects highlight the need for diversified economies in the West. The boom-bust cycle of energy production leaves communities vulnerable when prices drop due to factors out of their control. Both outdoor recreation and renewable energy development provide options for moving beyond sole reliance on oil and gas production to a more stable and clean economy.
Quick hits
** How the Trump administration has filled positions without Senate confirmation
------------------------------------------------------------
NPR ([link removed])
** Drop in oil prices could lead to bankruptcy for small producers
------------------------------------------------------------
Washington Post ([link removed]) | New York Times ([link removed]) | Bloomberg Environment ([link removed]) | Wall Street Journal ([link removed]) | Foreign Policy ([link removed]) | Axios ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
** BLM relocation prompts about half of D.C. staff to quit
------------------------------------------------------------
Mountain West News Bureau ([link removed]) | Westword ([link removed])
** Clean energy produced on Navajo land could help power Los Angeles, replace loss of generating station
------------------------------------------------------------
Cronkite News ([link removed])
** 50 year old policy is communities' first line of defense, but threatened by Trump rollback
------------------------------------------------------------
Grist ([link removed])
** New Senate bill will address parks maintenance backlog
------------------------------------------------------------
E&E News ([link removed])
** Opinion: Congress should approve hardrock mining legislation
------------------------------------------------------------
The Missoulian ([link removed])
Quote of the day
It's unconstitutional, because the Constitution requires that the Senate play a role in consenting or not consenting to the president's nominees... Major federal dollars being spent by these people. And we don't even know who they are.”
—Rebecca Jones, Policy Counsel at the Project on Government Oversight, NPR ([link removed])
Picture this
** @YellowstoneNPS ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
We bring you one of Yellowstone’s small but mighty predators: The marten! This member of the weasel family is as savvy as any other predator roaming the park. They’re active throughout the year and hunt mostly on the ground. Have you spotted a marten in Yellowstone?
============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
Copyright © 2020 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.
Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
