Blog
We're Energy Pigs
Posted: 2009-02-06 11:45:07
Back in mid-January, We're Energy Pigs was the headline on the cover of the Jackson Hole News & Guide. The story, written by editor Thomas Dewell, was comprehensive and sobering.
From the opening few sentences, which read
An analysis of the electricity, natural gas, vehicle and jet fuel delivered in Teton County shows valley sources annually contribute 723,000 metric tons of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
Based on those numbers, Jackson Hole on a per-person basis emits 37 metric tons of the odorless, colorless gas per year, exceeding the national average of 24 metric tons.
... to the conclusion that cost is the only thing that will force Jackson Hole to use less energy. Dewell and his staff laid out a picture of our growth in energy consumption (nearly double since 1992) as well as a snapshot of where our electrons come from.
That issue of the N&G contained a total of five full pages of coverage on the topic of local energy use--unfortunately not all of the stories are available to link to online. The coverage was balanced and objective, not judgemental at all, just matter-of-fact.
Here's a sampling:
From a story titled Energy industry pays the way for Wyoming
If Jackson is an energy pig in the energy state, the energy industry is its cash cow.
As Jackson residents fight drilling proposals in the Wyoming Range and try to reduce their own energy use, they are alll benefiting substantially from the state's energy boom.
To an overview of the Town/County 10x10 initiative titled Jackson leaders pledge to reduce carbon footprint
These days when county commissioners hold their weekly meetings, they often conduct them in a chamber dimly lit with a dozen energy-efficient bulbs.
During those meetings, they'll sip water or coffee from reusable bottles or mugs, and when they're done reviewing planning documents, they'll hand the folders and binders back to the applicants.
Though these actions do not save a lot of energy, they are symbolic of the commissioners shared commitment, shared by Town of Jackson leaders, to reduce the carbon footprint of local government. By 2010, officials want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 10 percent of a 2006 baseline.
The net effect, for me at least, was the realization that the time has come to get the community actively involved in the effort to reduce our cumulative energy use--that's what the Teton Area 10x10 initiative hopes to accomplish.
Please join us!
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