Abandoned oil shale lease ‘win’ for Colorado River Basin, according to environmentalists

An Estonian oil company, Enefit, recently abandoned its plans to mine oil shale on federal land in the Uinta Basin and lost the authority to use its water rights for fossil fuel production. It’s a huge win for environmentalists who were fighting the proposal — the company was hoping to produce 50,000 barrels of synthetic oil daily and use about 11,000 acre feet of water per year from the Green River. And later in the newscast, our radio partners report on a new solar plant in Red Mesa and breakthroughs in geothermal energy in southwestern Utah. // Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent discusses concerns over downtown’s aesthetic conditions, preparing for the upcoming eclipse, a rise in Spanish Valley’s short-term rentals and an 84-year old ‘legendary’ skydiver. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News explores rabies and bats after two tested positive at Arches National Park. Plus, she discusses the summer reuse arts residency and the upcoming Red Rock Arts Festival. // Show Notes: https://www.kzmu.org/abandoned-oil-shale-lease-is-a-win-for-colorado-river-basin-according-to-environmentalists/