Climate Change

Report: Global Warming Emissions Jump 292 Percent in Rocky Mountains

By Courtney Lowery, 6-20-06

The Rocky Mountain region saw a 292 perent increase in carbon dioxide emissions between 1960 and 2001, the largest percentage increase of any other region in the country, according to a study released Tuesday by the Montana Public Interest Research Group.

The report, titled, "The Carbon Boom" uses data from the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory to track carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel combustion across the country. In 2001, the last year for which data was available, 43 percent of emissions came from burning oil, 36 percent came from burning coal and 21 percent from natural gas. (The full report, as a large PDF, can be viewed by clicking here.)

In the Rocky Mountain West, where as Todd Wilkinson reported last week on New West, global warming is heating up, the PIRG report shows coal burning accounted for 60 percent of the increase in emissions from 1960 to 2001. The Plains region was the only region to outproduce the West in coal burning emissions with 80 percent of its increase coming from coal.

Between 1960 and 2001, the Rocky Mountain West saw an increase of 30,812 megawatts of capacity at coal-fired power plants, according the report.

At an unveiling of the report Tuesday in Missoula, as MontPIRG executive director Matt Leow spoke in front of a backdrop of photos showing the dwindling of the Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park, coal emmissions were on his mind. The report shows that in Montana, 79 percent of the state's 202 percent increase over the four decades was from coal burning. Leow noted that with one new coal-fired power plant already running and seven more proposed in the state, Montana is poised to increase its carbon emissions even more in the next several years.

"When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging," Leow said. "To protect future generations from the effects of global warming, we need to stop this trend of increasing pollution."

In Wyoming, the state saw a 575 percent increase in total emissions -- an increase of which coal burning accounted for 85 percent, the highest behind West Virginia.

Oil burning accounted for 28 percent of the Mountain West's increase and natural gas burning accounded for 12 percent of the increase, according to the report. Total, Rocky Mountain West saw a 170 percent increase from 1960 and 2001 in oil emissions, a number stacked up against tied to a 470 percent increase in vehicle miles traveled, according to the report.

Bruce Farling, the executive director of Montana Trout Unlimited was on hand Tuesday to talk about the effect global warming is having on what he called Montana's "snowpack economy," saying climate change isn't something that will happen to the state in a decade or two. "It's what is happening in Montana right now," he said.

Montana's agriculture, recreation and hydro-power industries all rely on water and snowpack and already, "we're changing that dramatically."

Pointing to a full-looking Clark Fork River behind him in downtwon Missoula, Farling said, "We think this is a lot of water, but this is still below normal."

State by state, here's how Rocky Mountain states look in the report:

Percent growh in emissions between 1960 and 2001:
Colorado: 221 percent.
Idaho: 98 percent.
Montana: 202 percent.
New Mexico: 218 percent.
Oregon: 144 percent.
Utah: 194 percent.
Washington: 173 percent
Wyoming: 575 percent.







[End of article]

Hi Courtney, I think you are doing a great job. Keep up the good work.

Courtney

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. For the folks out there who think theory has nothing to do with fact, a close review of this MPIRG report, based upon U. S. Gov't data, reveals some heavy, heavy facts that closely inform the "theory" of anthropogenic global warming.

Robert

Well for starters park the car, shut off the lights, heat and cooling, the computer, and the TV. The problem is not the producers, but the consumers.

Perhapes everyone born since or have moved to the Rocky Mountains since 1960 should just be required to leave. How many of us who moved here for the outdoors hop in our cars/trucks/SUV's to go for a climb, kayak, flyfish, or protest something. Look in the mirror and quit blaming others.

The problem is both the producers and the consumers, and there are very concrete ways we can work together to limit carbon dioxide emmissions.

Its not about blaming others- its about making practical policy choices (and personal life style choices) that reduce our dependance of foreign oil and reduce carbon dioxide pollution.

There are lots of examples of ways we can limit carbon dioxide pollution in Montana (and Idaho too, Matt from Boise).

Last year, the Montana Legislature (Sen. Tester, SB 415) passed a renewable portfolio standard, dramatically increasing the use of renewable energy in the state. Wind power is cost competitve in Montana, clean, and creates an economic opportunity for farmers and ranchers. If we need to increase energy production in the Rockies, lets use our abundant adn cheap renewable resources. Eventually, we can reduce the use of coal and natural gas. Meanwhile, we can limit their negative impacts by working with industry and asking them to use the best available technologies to clean up their act.

I encourage people from all walks of life and political pursuasions to consider the real life impacts of global warming- lower water levels, drought, disrupted habitat- and to come together to create solutions. Global warming affects us all.

No matter how dedicated the environmentalist is they never seem to feel that they are a part of the problem, you are. Every single bit of energy you use comes from the ground too, except for wind energy, and even that is fought by enviromentalists too. If there truly is global warming going on that is caused by man, and I seriously doubt it, considering it won't help. The only thing that will help is to reduce your use of fuels, period. All of the running to meetings, movies, protests, etc will make things wourse if it truly is a problem. I have asked over and over on sites that insist man caused global warming is real this question, "are you planning to give up your vacation, go to a closer location, cut the time, drive 55 mph"? Without exception evryone of the believers is going to continue on as they usually do, because "what I do won't make a difference". Real or not as long as that attitude prevails among the believers who only want someone else controlled, nothing will change.

Exactly, Marion. The MontPIRG report (did you read it?) doesn't suggest that global warming is someone else's problem, or that someone else should fix it. It seems to me it that it trys to understand the causes of global warming, and uses sound scientific research to support something we already know- our current use of fossil fuels is causing the earth to heat up at an alarming rate.

Yep, I think we should change personal lifestyles that contribute to the trend. I also think we should encourage change in industry through good legislation.

And finally, as a response to your challenge, sure, I have and will continue to walk or bike to work, eat locally grown food, minimize long-distance, single person trips in a car, and support politicians and policies to minimize OUR impacts on the planet.

Marion I have some reading about global warming for you. I suggest you start here, a full report was released today by the National Academies: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11676.html It's a fantastic resource.

And CNN ran a featured article on the report from the National Academies under the science section.

It is the "reconstructed" that I take issue with. First of all we know the Little ice age ended about 150 years ago. Beyond that when something is reconstructed via computer, it is dependent on the information put in. did they have thermometers? What kind? It is still all speculation to put an agenda.

Marion, the link I sent you explains in detail the proxy data used as substitutes for thermometers over the past 2000 years. The best reconstructions incorporate multiple proxies (e.g. tree-ring data, ice core data, bore hole data, O18 records from tropical corals, etc…) that when taken together span the globe. The book also provides a detailed description of the methods and even provides the computer code used to generate the reconstructions. Did you even look at the table of contents? I am offering up exactly what you are, and have been, asking for here. The least you could do is look at the table of contents, or maybe even read the summary. I just wanted to follow up on our previous conversation with a valuable reference for you, and anyone else with similar questions. Beyond that, I’d rather not have this discussion…there is no way I can counter your unsubstantiated claims and fictitious accusations of agendas. So I will bow out now and leave the comment forum so people might have more pertinent discussions.

<center><img>http://2thetopmarketing.com/images/2thetoplogo.gif</img></center>

<a >Internet Marketing Seminar</a> teaching businesses how to gain a top ranking in Google, sell products online, and hit their target market. This 1 day intensive Internet Marketing Seminar is easy to understand for even the most novice web user. Take advantage of the web to help your business grow and put your website at the top of Search Engines! Seating is Limited!

Learn how to market your website online like a Fortune 500 Company. Your website has the potential for high ranking on search engines to make your business a top player in your industry. Rank higher than your top competitors and take charge of your website to work for your business. Understand how to use Social Media to build your business traffic, increase your ranking on Google, and put your Social Networking on autopilot. YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook are hot buzzwords right now, but how do businesses actually use these Social Media websites to grow their business? Seating is LIMITED so signup today. In this bad economy make the best use of everything you have. let us show you how your website can work to grow your business 24/7.

<center>Seabrook, Hampshire Inn, Wed 7/1/09 from 9:00 - 4:00</center>
<center><a >2TheTopMarketing.com</a></center>
<center>Signup Today before the seminar is booked!</center>
<center><img>http://2thetopmarketing.com/webseminar.jpg</img></center>

<a ><img>https://mythereveiw.com/sslwebsite/index.php</img></a>

Hey Everyone - I'm hoping that someone can point me in the right direction to buy one of these R4 cards for the Nintendo DS Lite. I had been looking at them previously on ebay, but now they appear to be few and far between, and having previously been bundled with a micro-sd card they now all seem to be selling for similar prices without the card. Can anyone recommend a reliable place that they have bought from either with or without a micro-sd card and preferably for a good price?

Many thanks in advance

<a >Dyson Air Multiplier</a>
We've got hold of a Dyson Air Multiplier and ripped it from its packaging. See our unboxing photo gallery!