Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Colorado likely to be at odds on oil and gas under Trump presidency
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Monday, November 18, 2024
Oil and gas infrastructure. Photo courtesy of BLM Colorado, Flickr ([link removed]) .
The state of Colorado has adopted ([link removed]) the same greenhouse gas reduction targets to combat climate change as those the United States government agreed to as part of the internationally-backed Paris climate agreement signed in 2015. This includes an ambitious goal ([link removed]) of cutting 50 percent of carbon dioxide emissions across Colorado's economy by 2050 from a baseline set in 2005. However, President-elect Donald Trump's vows to once again withdraw the United States from the Paris climate pact and to “drill baby, drill ([link removed]) ” on federal lands could make Colorado's progress toward reaching those targets more difficult.
There are over 2 million acres ([link removed]) of issued but unused federal oil and gas leases in Colorado and the Bureau of Land Management is in the process of updating resource management plans (RMPs) that will determine future leasing across millions more acres in Colorado. Given that those plans reflect the priorities of the Biden administration, it's possible the Trump administration would want to revise them, a long process that is certain to face legal challenges.
In addition, Project 2025 ([link removed]) , the policy checklist put together by conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation, includes a goal to “abandon withdrawals of lands from leasing in the Thompson Divide of the White River National Forest, Colorado.” In April, the Biden administration withdrew about 221,000 acres ([link removed]) from drilling and mining in the Thompson Divide for 20 years after a decades-long battle by environmentalists and landowners to block oil and gas operations in the area.
** Quick hits
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Trump picks Colorado fossil fuel executive to lead the Energy department
New York Times ([link removed]) | Colorado Sun ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed]) | Axios ([link removed]) | North Dakota Monitor ([link removed])
Colorado likely to be at odds on oil and gas under Trump presidency
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Environmental groups fear Doug Burgum will sacrifice public lands for oil industry profits
The Guardian ([link removed])
U.S. Forest Service proposes drastically increasing logging in the Pacific Northwest
Associated Press ([link removed])
Despite Biden's plans to protect sage-grouse, the Trump administration has the bird in its crosshairs
North State Journal ([link removed]) | Colorado Public Radio ([link removed])
Interior says projects funded by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law supported 28,000 jobs, $3 billion economic impact last year
Sierra Sun Times ([link removed])
Wildfire prevention, trail work at risk under U.S. Forest Service's seasonal employee hiring freeze
Denver Post ([link removed]) | Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Study: Key Colorado River basins could be at a tipping point
The Hill ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” The fight to protect our planet is literally a fight for humanity.”
—President Joe Biden during a trip to the Amazon rainforest, Associated Press ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@usinterior ([link removed])
This black-billed magpie took advantage of @windcavenps ([link removed]) ' new bison ride-share program.
It is one of America's oldest national parks, and you can find wildlife roaming, and riding through, its rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides.
Photo by Colleen Cahill
#wildlife ([link removed]) #bison ([link removed]) #usinterior ([link removed])
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