Author – The Durango Herald

Don’t let agencies break promises about new wells

Have you ever been played for a fool? Go to that place with me. Which was worse: the anger that dawned on you upon realizing you’d been had or the shame in admitting you had let i...

DATE: Jul 23, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thinking Green

Over the years, my feeling about Old Glory evolve

It’s the fifth of July, and it’s early. I’m alone on a dirt road in the mountains, climbing. The American flag dominates my thoughts, three archetypes rising from somewhere deep. ...

DATE: Jul 9, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thinking Green

Fish and Wildlife is utterly failing to protect lynx

Who cares about lynx? I ask this question for two reasons. One: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, by law, is supposed to care about lynx, but doesn’t. Two:...

DATE: Jun 24, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thinking Green

Obama’s pollution plan falls far short of what we need

With much fanfare, two weeks back the Obama administration announced its proposed rules for regulating greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants. The resulting ...

DATE: Jun 11, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thinking Green

Change requires becoming unreasonable

Our society has an unhealthy infatuation with the image of the reasonable man. You know the one I’m talking about. Well-coiffed, prudent, good with money – he exudes an air of pat...

DATE: May 28, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thinking Green

We can’t allow government to ignore our voices

Stop the press! Something wild just happened. I, Dan Olson, found common cause with the tea party. Coming from your local environmental group, this declaration deserve...

DATE: May 14, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thinking Green

When it comes to energy, which camp are you in?

Good news! (Kind of). Once again, election season is upon us. No, no – not the 2014 midterms. I’m talking about the annual La Plata Electric Association Board of Directors election. ...

DATE: Apr 30, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thinking Green

Help us fight these menacing energy monsters

Have you ever seen a monster? I have. A few weeks ago. He was an odd monster. He didn’t hide in the dark spots fancied by most monster-types. No, this monster stood out in the ope...

DATE: Apr 16, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thinking Green

We deserve an industry that’s a good neighbor

What do you get when you put an industry insider, public-relations consultant and lobbyist in an office suite with a bag of money? A. The start of a government regulatory office. ...

DATE: Apr 2, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thinking Green

Green business will not save you or the climate

The promise of green business is a lie. As a person who pursued sustainable business strategies at the country’s largest organizations for close to 14 years, this statement is a...

DATE: Mar 19, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thinking Green

Natural gas: Its footprint is larger than you think

In 2011, researchers from Cornell University caused an uproar when they published a study that found methane emissions from shale natural-gas development and use had a bigger greenhouse gas ...

DATE: Feb 26, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thinking Green

Criticism of fracking, health study misses mark

Tuesday’s editorial in The Durango Herald, “Fracking flap,” correctly pointed out the common confusion with interpreting scientific studies by the lay public. Much of the rest of the editori...

DATE: Feb 12, 2014 | CATEGORY: Thinking Green