Farmers in Southwest Colorado have to grapple with a multitude of challenges, from the various climatic factors like drought, wind, and temperatures, to economic, technical, and judgment-based issues.
One issue that rarely gets discussed, but is paramount to the work that farmers undertake, is the air that we breath. In the Four Corners region we have some of the worst air quality in the country due in large part to the oil and gas industry that stretches across state boundaries on all sides.
If you don’t believe me then get on top of any ridge in our region and look to the southwest. Four coal power plants and thousands of natural gas pads dot the landscape and permeate the air. That same air is pushed up by our predominant southwesterly flow of wind right into our mountain valleys and gets trapped. Farmers spend most of their time outside breathing this same air day in and day out, which becomes a safety concern during certain parts of the year.
Methane, along with a cocktail of other gasses continues to leak out of oil industry infrastructure to this day, fueling this haze. A state law in Colorado, as well as the new Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) methane rule, are already pressing the oil and gas companies to clean up this unnecessary leaking, which gives the industry greater profits through capturing more methane, but also contributes more to royalty taxes at the state and local levels.
Congress is poised to strip the BLM methane rule federally, allowing emission leaks to go free. Please urge Rep. Tipton and Sen. Gardner to vote against overturning the BLM methane rule.
Because after all, we all breathe the same air.
Tyler Hoyt and Kendra Mackenbach
Green Table Farm
Mancos