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Coal at Sunset: The Center of the Universe (S1 Ep7)

Coal at Sunset: The Center of the Universe (S1 Ep7)

FromLaws of Notion


Coal at Sunset: The Center of the Universe (S1 Ep7)

FromLaws of Notion

ratings:
Length:
24 minutes
Released:
Dec 20, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

The Yampa River is the lifeblood of northwestern Colorado. It's one of the last wild, undammed rivers in the American West. Nobody appreciates the Yampa's transformative power more than Tom Kleinschnitz. Now the director of Moffat County Tourism, he's spent a lifetime on the river. He knows that outdoor recreation and tourism can be an important part of Craig's post-coal future by creating jobs and driving economic activity. But the river is also under threat. Climate change has contributed to severe drought in recent years, and the Yampa's flow has dropped significantly. What will it take to protect the region's critical lifeline and ensure that it's still thriving when Craig needs it most? Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock Guests: Tom Kleinschnitz, director, Moffat County Tourism; Josh Veenstra, owner, Good Vibes River Gear Coal at Sunset was created by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and produced in partnership with House of Pod. To hear bonus clips and find additional resources, visit https://coalatsunset.org/
Released:
Dec 20, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (35)

In rural northwestern Colorado, the town of Craig is at a crossroads. Coal has long been the primary employer and economic driver in this small, tight-knit community, which takes pride in providing energy to the surrounding region. Here, coal is an identity. A duty. A way of life. But something is about to change. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Colorado is moving on from fossil fuels. And in 2020, Tri-State, the local electrical utility, announced that it would close the Craig coal-fired power plant and coal mines by the end of the decade. Now, residents face an uncertain future. Some business owners and local officials are seeking to reinvent Craig’s economy. Others still hold out hope of a coal revival. This is a story about the energy we use every day. But it's also a story about values and resilience in the face of change. Craig is only the latest American coal town to face a transition. It won't be the last. Can it succeed where others have failed? Coal at Sunset: A Colorado Town in Transition was created by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and is produced in partnership with House of Pod.