After reading the article “BP pipeline ruptures near Bayfield, spills into Sauls Creek” (Herald, Dec. 20), I was upset to hear that spills from oil and gas extraction continue to plague La Plata County and our country as a whole.
With spills becoming a regular occurrence, it is clear it is time to end our dependence on fossil fuels and move to a cleaner source of energy.
If we continue with “business as usual” with slap-on-the-wrist fines and lackluster regulation, we will see the loss of our public lands. As an avid user of La Plata county’s public land, I can tell you that doesn’t sit well with me.
We can instead take collective action to stop our fossil fuel dependence and protect our public lands. Through the work of the Climate Reality Project, our collective voice can make a difference. The goal of their campaign is to shift communities and businesses to 100 percent renewable energy consumption by 2030.
I urge you to learn about their campaign, sign the petition, encourage local businesses to join and spread the word. Our collective voice will show big oil that we won’t tolerate the destruction of our public lands, and that we are ready for a change.
For more information, visit climaterealityproject.org and iamprosnow.com.
Jake Hutcherson
Durango
