Primer 2: Energy — High Country News

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Related: Disposable Workers of the Oil and Gas Fields Without a college degree, work on the oil and gas fields is the best job you can get in the rural West – unless, of course, it kills you; Power from the underground Geothermal power heats up in Reno, Nev., as the West begins to pay more attention to its underground energy resources.; Primer 1: Politics Something deeper than party lines is at work in Western politics.; A political speech the West needs to hear High Country News imagines – and delivers – the kind of speech about our energy future that the West needs to hear from its next president.; Navajo Windfall The Navajo Nation is fighting to keep uranium mining off the reservation, but eager uranium companies are determined to mine– and the federal government is on their side

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The Doc is in

Rural folks find common ground at a vet's office in Western Colorado.
Victory came from the bottom up

A vast army of determined volunteers were the force behind Obama’s success in Colorado.
Slideshow: The unflappable Doc Vincent

In rural western Colorado, a vet tends to pets and their humans. Michelle Nijhuis reads her essay, along with slides by JT Thomas.
Conscientious objectors 65 years ago

Paying homage to those imprisoned at Mancos Camp, Colo., during World War II.
Stuck in the PAWGmire

The Pinedale Anticline Working Group was supposed to give citizens input on the local oil and gas boom, but it hasn’t worked out as planned.

More Letters

Burning issues

Controversial forestry scientist Tom Bonnicksen believes increased logging is necessary to fight global warming.
Still Howling Wolf

Ranchers and environmentalists in Wyoming are still squabbling over wolves as the animal bounces on and off the endangered species list.
Liquid assets

California is enthusiastic about creating “water banks” to help the state’s cities weather future droughts.
Field Day

In some Western states, including Colorado, prison inmates are taking the place of immigrant farmworkers.