In light of a recent discussion I had with Merril concerning the cancellation of some oil and gas drilling leases in Utah, I’m posting this op-ed that I sent to the Spectrum a few months ago. I don’t know if any of you already saw it in the paper. I’ve also included three links to articles concerning the cancellation. The Washington Post is probably the most balanced. The individual identifying himself as left wing nut job is the least, but is included due to his providing a picture of one of the areas which had been leased for drilling. Enjoy!
My father came to Southern Utah 28 years ago after finishing his residency to become an orthopedic surgeon. He had not intended to move here, but after spending a weekend enjoying hiking and skiing in Southern Utah's spectacular surroundings he was convinced. He brought a skill the community needed and ran a small business that employed several people for the next 25 years until he retired.
I work as a computer programmer for a California based company that has its software development shop in St. George, because this is where the developers want to live. Our business is not constrained by geography. We could work from anywhere, but we choose Utah and the beauty of the area plays heavily into why we make that choice.
There's been a lot of discussion about the impact extraction activities would have on jobs. Sometimes someone will point out that Utah benefits from tourist and outdoor industry jobs as well, but that will often be countered by the argument that the extractive industries create better, higher paying jobs than those that benefit from our spectacular scenery. I feel that jobs like mine or those my father created are all too often ignored in this equation.
In the growing knowledge economy there are more and more jobs that will not be constrained by location. Entrepreneurs and skilled workers will be able to choose where they want to work and they will often make those choices based on standard of living considerations such as air and water quality and opportunities for outdoor recreation. To trade away such standard of living considerations for the jobs and money that will be brought by extractive industries strikes me as a devil's bargain.
In our stunning natural surroundings we, in Utah, have a goose that has been laying a Golden Egg for us every day for years, but I fear that like the foolish farmer in the fairy tale we're convincing ourselves that by cutting the goose open we'll discover untold wealth. I strongly suspect that if we pursue reckless extractive activities such as Oil Shale development, we will find ourselves consigned to the same disappointment that the farmer experienced after having killed his goose.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/04/AR2009020401785_2.html/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29017638/ns/us_news-environment/t/bush-era-energy-drilling-leases-utah-canceled/
http://leftwingnutjob.blogspot.com/2009/02/77-drilling-leases-canceled-in-utah.html
