Comments about ‘Groups sue over energy plans’

I think that the groups seeking redress from "bush era" energy corridors are right. I know that America has domestic energy needs, but there is nothing impelling American energy progress as much as much as the self feeding convenient coal industry is doing the opposite. I don't totally blame the industry. We all want a lot of energy, but the sarcastic smirks I've seen on the faces of some industry leaders about whether America can change herself and be free of coal are insulting and paramountly false despite it being a monumental task and we should not allow their condescending, "we take care of these complex problems for you because you are too busy to think about them" attitude dictate what paths we take. I hope that people do pay enough attention and and take stock in their own country to want to know specifically what is going on in these issues. Domestic fuel may be needed, but not even marginally as much as we need energy culture overhaul, which prominently needs us to ask the only player big enough and apporopriate to represent our own needs: our government, not corporate energy invested CEO's and boards.

Our government needs to be objective in its planning, and not be influenced by corporate energy companies who only care about profit to the detriment of our health and precious one-of-a-kind lands.

will be any happier about energy corridors to get renewable power from where it is, to where it needs to be, you are delusional. When it actually comes to time to use this wonderful (expensive) power from solar, wind, and geothermal; they will howl about the same things. The plants, the animals, the sensitive environment, the views, they aren't happy with any solution.

Maybe you'll have a change of mind when the lights go out.

And so the saga continues. A handful of environmentalists with law degrees working to halt some planning efforts by Salazar and his department. He cannot please anyone. He and his boss had hoped to make some friends with these enviro lawyers.

Maybe Salazar will appreciate Republicans more as this debate unfolds.

I understand where people are coming from when they state "bush era" but I really doubt that the people that put this plan together said we will do whatever we want and not think about anything that is being filed in this law suit. These plans take years and years to get planned and approved and when it finally does get approved they get sued and they have to re-work the whold plan. Its no wonder it is planned for older energy with all the regulations and law suits that these planners have to deal with. I would like to hear from the side of the people proposing the plan and see what their enviormental part of the plan says before I can agree with these groups that at times seem to file lawsuits on any energy solution that they don't agree with.

There are some legitimate concerns with respect to our environment when it comes to energy production; however, too many of these "environmental" groups are filled with zealots who worship nature and see man as the enemy.

They will not be happy until mankind goes back to a few hundred thousand in number and lives like most animals today (scrounging for food and living in caves).

They attempt to block any effort to develop resources or build new things (including renewable power production). Progress is the enemy for them.

What makes these people even suspect that our stumbling federal government will do it better than the private sector? Governments' track record is equally as poor as the energy companies.

I think you are correct. We have seen part of the huge wind farm in SW Wyoming as we were passing through on our way from Idaho to Utah. Those huge things looked like monstors on the horizon! And they take up a great deal of space, especially for the amount of energy each unit produces. Service roads run between each of them, too. Contrasting that, drilling an oil well takes a few acres, which are then reclaimed, leaving only a pump and a few tanks, and in some cases, not even that much. The service roads are already criss-crossing the oil patch (and if you are from another part of the country, and haven't seen the Uintah Basin area of eastern Utah and western Colorado, you don't realize how much open space filled with not much there is). There must be a balance between renewable energy and fossil fuels. And oil is used for so much more than fuel. The downturn in the industry is crippling the economy of the entire area here, and ultimately increasing our dependence on foreign oil.

The Texas booms and busts in oil demonstrate that it is not wise to base your economy on fossil fuels. The Uintah basin needs to diversify.

One of its greatest assets is beautiful places for tourists to visit, such as Dinosaur National Monument, Flaming Gorge, rafting rivers, etc.

PS. I'd rather see wind turbines than breathe polluted air.

Why don't the environmentalists push more nuclear? On 75 acres a nuclear plant can produce the same (possibly more) than 1400 acres of PV arrays.

So, which do we do, cover up a small area with a nuclear plant or cover up a large area with PV arrays?

I agree the Uintah Basin needs to diversify, but tourism doesn't create many jobs. The oil industry here, which does not pollute the air in this area since it is exploration and production, not refining, supports everything else, including retail marketing and home ownership. While the Dinosaur Monument and Flaming Gorge are certainly beautiful, they will not support the financial needs of the people here. Recently, businesses have closed their doors, people have lost their homes, and the trickle-down effect hurts all of us. The local want ads and Job Service have virtually NO jobs for anyone to have. In order for us to diversify, we need to depend on the oil industry long enough for other employment opportunities to come. One problem for any kind of manufacturing is simply our location. We are too far from the freeway or railway to be economically feasible, and gas prices are higher here than in Salt Lake. We have new hotels being built, but employment there pays low wages--not enough to make a house payment. The public needs the natural gas and oil being produced here, and the government is preventing the work from going forward.

To "To poster at 11:40 | 12:33 p.m." but liberals keep telling me that trickle-down economics doesn't work! How is this possible!?

Actually it's the oil companies who shut down the oil rigs, not government, and that's why it is not good to depend on oil for the economy.

If people want to work in the energy industry they may need to move where the new jobs are, which is in the clean, renewable energy industries, not fossil fuels, which is unreliable and will be depleted one day.

I disagree that tourism doesn't create many jobs. It could, if the will is there to develop a high class tourist destination. Then many other services would be required, everything from accountants to builders, professionals to laborers, and Vernal could pick up again nicely -- though I don't expect the Uintah Basin will ever become a densely occupied area, nor should it.

What right does any old group have to sue about using public lands? Shouldn't that right belong only to those with vested interest--local residents and affected ranchers, land users, and businesses?

Society cannot grow if it listens to every special interest group! Sometimes you just have to do what's in the country's best interest, and right now that is indisputably energy development.

If you can produce oil and gas in California orchards, vineyards, and farms and in Gulf Coast wildlife refuges, you can certainly do it safely in the Utah desert. I challenge anyone to dispute this.

And to the poster above him. SUWA is a pain to deal with. Oil production and tourism, etc., can co-exist with a little effort. Yes, the oil companies shut down the oil rigs, for many reasons: Decreased price of oil per barrel; difficulties caused by the canceled/suspended oil leases. It takes years before the leases are developed, and by continually selling the same leases, only to have them suspended, the companies lose confidence and just give up and move on to other areas with fewer problems. Some of the drilling companies here have moved to Pennsylvania and South Dakota.

Recently in the Vernal paper it said: "Uintah County officials say delays are costly as it erodes investment assurance for energy companies in the region as a whole."

"County commissioner Darlene Burns said that 'more than one company has said they are leaving the area because it’s just too difficult to do business.'”

This was in response to 31 leases that were sold June 23 and immediately delayed for environmental review. They have been review for 7 years, some of them. This is the frustration many of us have.

It is a blessing in disguise that the drilling companies are leaving Uintah County. Now the area will be pushed to think of a better basis for its economy than mining finite resources.

The Uintah basin has so much to offer visitors, and is a convenient drive from the Wasatch Front.

Think big and creatively! Don’t be stuck in the past with old ideas. Invite renewable energy in, expand education, see the great potential in the natural jewel that the Uintah basin is. This area is blessed, but it will take forward-looking thinkers to develop its everlasting gifts.