Citizen-Times: Ashville, North Carolina

Burr, Taylor flunk responsibility test on energy policy


By Nathan Small
June 5, 2005

During 2004 at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, volunteers donated 111,935 hours, totaling nearly 13 years of work. They worked at no cost, but for great gain: protecting our natural heritage. Most Americans love the incredible natural resources our country has been blessed with, and are willing to work to protect them. Which is why America’s wildest grassland still has a chance to be protected from full-scale oil and gas drilling.

New Mexico’s Otero Mesa, nearly the size of Delaware at 1.2 million acres, could be overrun by oil and gas drilling by late summer. The cultural importance and wild character of this arid grassland would be lost, all for a few days worth of energy. That is, unless Americans join folks like New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson in standing firm for policies that bring true energy security while continuing to protect our wildest public lands.

Richardson has been strong in his commitment to protecting much of Otero Mesa. Recently, he led New Mexico into a historic court case against the federal government over the grassland. The governor, a former energy secretary, supports protecting a large part of Otero Mesa while allowing drilling on an area of equal size. Sadly, there is still no federal willingness to compromise.

Sen. Richard Burr from North Carolina is in a unique position when it comes to Otero Mesa and public lands across America. He is Vice-Chair of the Senate Energy Subcommittee, which recently sent energy legislation to the full Senate. As unchecked oil and gas drilling is considered the primary threat to many wild public lands, curbing such development is crucial.

Weeks ago the House passed an energy bill, voted for by Rep. Charles Taylor, R-Brevardm that gave over 8 billion in incentives for oil and gas development. It allocated only $500 million to America’s energy future: renewable and efficiency alternatives. As the process continues, key players such as Rep. Taylor and especially Sen. Burr must understand American energy security depends on developing alternatives, not on reckless drilling of our wildest public lands.

However, the most important voice in this debate belongs to the American people, owners of all 623 million acres of public lands that include most of Otero Mesa. Public lands like Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and the Smokies are treasured by most Americans, and for good reason. They provide many economic as well as environmental benefits. Quality of life means something to most Americans, and wild public lands with their cultural importance and natural beauty are vital to our collective values.

Relying on oil and gas ultimately means relying on foreign energy. America has only 3 percent of the world’s remaining oil reserves. It makes little sense to devote precious tax dollars to drill on our wildest lands for unproven quantities of oil or gas. Instead, initiatives such as the Apollo Alliance (a national endeavor to “achieve energy independence in one generation” www.apolloalliance.org) should receive the lion’s share of energy funding.

Historically, American ingenuity has led the way in developing new technologies and pioneering the improvement of people’s lives. Today, that reputation faces serious tests because of federal policies that give tax breaks to oil and gas drilling, ahead of renewable and energy efficiency measures. Restoring our leadership in the world means leading the way on alternative energy.

Industrially, America has also long been a world leader. With outsourcing, factories have closed or downsized.

But the materials needed to make renewable energy and energy efficiency measures could bring new life and the sound of Americans working to these same factories, providing sustainable jobs for many years to come.

Otero Mesa is a true national treasure. Native grassland, it is among the most rare ecosystems in the world. Fragile, it has still managed to support thriving herds of pronghorn antelope, countless migratory songbirds and raptors, along with independent ranchers who have been there for five generations. It also sits atop the only untapped aquifer in New Mexico, capable of supplying hundreds of thousands of people with drinking water for hundreds of years.

Public lands are given to each succeeding generation of Americans. With that gift comes the responsibility to pass these special places to our children and grandchildren.

To allow full-scale drilling in Otero Mesa would fail that responsibility. It’s important to understand clearly the concept of “environmentally sound oil and gas development” is nothing more than industry propaganda. Irresponsible drilling is destroying our land and communities all across the West, by contaminating our drinking water, by destroying forests and deserts. Oil and gas drilling is a messy business, creating spider webs of roads, loud continuous noise by using compressors, all of which impacts sportsmen, ranchers and others who have used this land for generations.

North Carolina’s manufacturing and technology base holds enormous potential to produce solar panels, wind turbines, and other renewable energy materials that can lead America to energy independence.

If we fulfill our responsibilities on Otero Mesa and beyond, energy security will become a reality and public lands will welcome their volunteer hours.

The Herald Sun: Durham, North Carolina

Think big on energy independence

By NATHAN SMALL : Guest Columnist
Jun 9, 2005

In 1961, when America wanted to put a man on the moon, it turned to the Apollo project. Apollo succeeded in part because it called on America's collective will to overcome a national challenge, putting America first in space.

A modern incarnation of the Apollo project, the Apollo Alliance, takes on an even more serious challenge: making America energy independent in one generation. In a letter sent to President George W. Bush, three high profile members of the Apollo Alliance, Governors Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, Jennifer Granholm of Michigan and Bill Richardson of New Mexico had this to say. "Energy independence is every bit as ambitious a goal today as the moon missions were in 1961."

With only 3 percent of the world's remaining oil resources, America can never drill its way to energy independence. Since 1982, even as domestic production has increased, foreign oil imports have doubled and foreign gas has tripled. These trends will undoubtedly increase, if America continues with energy business as usual.

Sadly, a recent House of Representatives energy bill earmarked $8 billion in incentives for oil and gas drilling while allocating only $500 million to renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. Some just don't understand that America's energy future is not underground.

But some do. In Washington, North Carolina Congressman David Price helped lead efforts against the wasteful House bill. On another front, Gov. Richardson, a former energy secretary, is leading the fight against federal overreach on America's wildest grassland.

Otero Mesa, in southern New Mexico, is a national treasure. Its status as native grassland ranks it among the most rare ecosystems in the world. Fragile, it has still managed to support thriving herds of pronghorn antelope, countless migratory songbirds and raptors, along with independent ranchers who have been there for five generations. It also sits atop the only untapped aquifer in New Mexico, capable of supplying hundreds of thousands of people with drinking water for hundreds of years.

For an estimated few days worth of energy, industry demands access to over 90 percent of Otero Mesa's 1.2-million acres. It's important to understand that the concept of "environmentally sound oil and gas development" is industry propaganda. Irresponsible drilling destroys land and communities by contaminating drinking water and destroying forests and deserts. Oil and gas drilling is a messy business, creating spider webs of roads and the loud, continuous noise of compressors, impacting sportsman, ranchers and others who have used this land for generations. Despite that, in January the Bureau of Land Management decided to protect less than 10 percent of Otero Mesa from drilling, toeing the industry line.

Otero Mesa is part of the 623- million acre American public land system. Our public lands are not only sources for economic and environmental benefits. They also provide a reminder of what made America, wilderness. Public lands are given to each succeeding generation of Americans. With that gift comes the responsibility to pass these places on to our children and grandchildren. To allow drilling in Otero Mesa would fail that responsibility.

The Apollo Alliance is focused on energy security, and that means developing quality, long-lasting jobs here at home. The diverse technology base in the Research Triangle offers vast potential to develop new and innovative materials such as wind turbines, 21st century insulation, solar panels and more, that will be the backbone of America's energy independence. Building this backbone would bring new life and the sound of Americans working to both manufacturing and technology centers all across North Carolina.

A recent analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that providing 20 percent of New Mexico's energy from renewables would meet the needs of nearly 2.4 million typical homes. It would create 4,760 jobs, nearly three times the number created by fossil fuels.

In the Apollo Alliance and on Otero Mesa are where national security, jobs creation, and environmental responsibility all meet. Promoting renewable technology and sustainable jobs in North Carolina contributes to American energy independence, as does protecting America's grassland, Otero Mesa.

The writer is Eastern Outreach Coordinator of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.