With all the news surrounding the President-Elect it is easy to lose sight of the environmental follies taking place at the state level, where truly shocking things are happening. Much like Michigan’s ban on bag ban covered in TreeHugger previously, the so-called free market Republican Party is in fact the exact opposite- closing down the free market to protect special interests.
Wyoming legislation bans use of wind power
The most egregious is in Wyoming, a big coal-mining state that also happens to be rather windy. In fact, Wyoming has one of the highest wind power potentials of any state. According to Wikipedia, “Wyoming’s geography of high-altitude prairies with broad ridges makes the state an ideal site for the development of wind resources.” So of course the politicians have introduced a bill making it illegal for utilities in the state to use renewable power. Inside Climate News reports:
North Dakota bill would protect drivers who “accidentally” hit protesters in the road
Across the lines/ get out of the road!/CC BY 2.0
During the Dakota Access protests, a legislator’s mother-in-law was scared by a protester jumping in front of her car. He worries that she might have “accidentally” hit the wrong pedals in a panic. Hence Bill 1203, which lets the driver off the hook if they “unintentionally injured or killed a pedestrian obstructing traffic on a public road or highway.” Specifically the legislation reads:
Now if that isn’t a licence to kill, I don’t know what is. According to the Bismarck Tribune,
While the bill might have protected Kempenich’s mother in law from a pedal malfunction, it also basically makes it open season on anyone in the road, whether protesting or not.
Utah State Government fight National Monument; Outdoor industry threatens to leave town
Outdoor Retailer Show/CC BY 2.0
When President Obama declared 1.35 million acres of Utah to become a new national monument, the locals were outraged, some “compared Obama’s monument designation in Utah to the “unilateral tyranny” exercised by the king of England against American colonies.” Senator Mike Lee called the designation an “arrogant act by lame a duck president” that will not stand.
On the other hand, the President notes that it is some pretty wonderful terrain,
It also is a pretty nice place for those who like the great outdoors:
And in fact, the outdoors industry is pretty important to Utah; the Outdoor Retailers Show is vast, filling Salt Lake City twice a year. Peter Metcalf of Black Diamond helped bring the shows to Utah, and complains:
He is taking a stand against Utah’s anti-environmental policies that could cost the state its leading role in the outdoor industry.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The outdoor industry is big in Utah, big enough to have a real impact.
