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Grand Junction CO Colorado
Grand Junction — After listening to a program on National Public Radio about oil shale development in western Colorado, Joe Brown of Boulder set out to learn more. He ended up making a feature length documentary about the current Rocky Mountain energy boom. He enlisted the help of filmmaker and friend Peter Moore.
“It’s not a Hollywood film. It’s an activist statement. It seemed there was not enough media coverage on oil and gas — especially on the Front Range. “We wanted to make sure people know what’s going on in Western Colorado.”
Over a year and a half, Brown and Moore made more than 30 trips from Boulder to Rifle to attend energy development meetings, talk with industry leaders, and interview local residents affected by the drilling. Brown spent more than $15,000
Brown wonders aloud why there’s not the same opposition to energy development in western Colorado as there is to “despoiling” the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
Originally Brown figured his film would be about the oil shale history in western Colorado; the boom and bust period of the 1980s.
After the two men visited Rifle, where they witnessed the large number of drilling rigs in the area, they decided to include the oil and gas issue in the film as well.
“We talked to some workers who had grown up on ranches and they felt morally conflicted about what was happening to local ranchers’ lands from all the drilling activity,” Brown said. Many workers spoke “off the record” for fear of losing their jobs, said Brown.
The film touches upon reported adverse health affects on animals and humans living nearby the drilling operations.
Brown said natural gas companies such as Encana would not talk or meet with Brown and Moore.
He said Royal Dutch Shell, EGL Resources, and Chevron — companies exploring the possibilities of oil shale development — were more open to talking.
The film showing is sponsored by WeCan, a student chapter of Western Colorado Congress.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
Grand Junction — After listening to a program on National Public Radio about oil shale development in western Colorado, Joe Brown of Boulder set out to learn more. He ended up making a feature length documentary about the current Rocky Mountain energy boom. He enlisted the help of filmmaker and friend Peter Moore.
“It’s not a Hollywood film. It’s an activist statement. It seemed there was not enough media coverage on oil and gas — especially on the Front Range. “We wanted to make sure people know what’s going on in Western Colorado.”
Over a year and a half, Brown and Moore made more than 30 trips from Boulder to Rifle to attend energy development meetings, talk with industry leaders, and interview local residents affected by the drilling. Brown spent more than $15,000
Brown wonders aloud why there’s not the same opposition to energy development in western Colorado as there is to “despoiling” the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
Originally Brown figured his film would be about the oil shale history in western Colorado; the boom and bust period of the 1980s.
After the two men visited Rifle, where they witnessed the large number of drilling rigs in the area, they decided to include the oil and gas issue in the film as well.
“We talked to some workers who had grown up on ranches and they felt morally conflicted about what was happening to local ranchers’ lands from all the drilling activity,” Brown said. Many workers spoke “off the record” for fear of losing their jobs, said Brown.
The film touches upon reported adverse health affects on animals and humans living nearby the drilling operations.
Brown said natural gas companies such as Encana would not talk or meet with Brown and Moore.
He said Royal Dutch Shell, EGL Resources, and Chevron — companies exploring the possibilities of oil shale development — were more open to talking.
The film showing is sponsored by WeCan, a student chapter of Western Colorado Congress.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
Go & Do
What: Documentary film screening, “National Sacrifice Zone: Colorado and the Cost of Energy Independence”
When: Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m. Where: Mesa State College, Weldon Lecture Hall Cost: Suggested donation $5 — not required Information: www.nationalsacrificezone.com |
