VIDEO: Public Land, Private Profits

By Tom Niemisto, Video Production Specialist, July 13, 2012 at 10:00 am

Our partners at the Center for American Progress have just released a gripping investigative video series documenting threats to public lands posed by expanded drilling in America's West. Check out the first video about Uranium mining near the Grand Canyon.

Watching this series you might be thinking (besides how beautiful the scenery is) how does this effect us here in Minnesota? We're facing a similar issue on the Iron Range, as we embark on a new era of copper nickel mining. It's likely to be an economic boon, but at what environmental and health cost? 

This video is a warning that we should proceed with caution.

It's also a direct reminder that we're all connected to each other by air and water, and share a finite pool of natural resources, even though we're far removed from the Grand Canyon.

As such, we should recognize the potential renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and bio-fuel production provide. They keep more dollars local and help create jobs and economic development opportunities in areas outside the big city.

Posted in Economic Development | Related Topics: Energy