The True Costs of Petroleum and Coal Dependence

This month our nation experienced two tragedies that serve as sad and stark reminders of the human and ecological toll of our fossil-fuel dependence.

On April 5, 29 miners lost their lives in West Virginia, leaving their community and the nation in mourning. Just two weeks later, an oil rig off the Louisiana coast caught fire and sank to the bottom of the ocean, reportedly killing 11 workers and spilling 5,000 barrels of oil a day. This morning's news reports say the oil slick has now touched land, threatening fisheries and wildlife along the Gulf Coast. Both instances remind us of the true costs of an economy dependent on petroleum and coal.

Generating energy will always have a societal impact. That's why we have to ask what level of risk is acceptable and how much of a human, ecological, and social cost are we willing to pay for our energy?

In Oregon, we're hearing more criticism of wind projects: they interfere with people's views; they're being placed in ecologically sensitive areas; or they're having a negative impact on wildlife and their habitats.

Of course we need to figure out how to navigate these issues around renewable energy development and deal with them in an environmentally responsible way. Doing so is critical: we can’t afford the high price of a fossil fuel economy.