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"People are moving here, building froofy homes, and there's a lot of development in an area that hasn't seen a lot of development," Cesark said. "It's almost a land battle."
More than 100 economists last month told President Bush and Western governors the environment is arguably the West's "greatest, long-run economic strength." They also said the energy bust in the mid-1980s forced communities from Montana to New Mexico to diversify their business base -- progress they fear might be erased with a return to oil and gas.
"It directly threatens the source of growth and prosperity this region has had," said Tom Power, chairman of the University of Montana's economics department.
Others, however, are eager to cash in. Drilling was expected to raise $11.6 million in property taxes and $1.6 million in other taxes for Colorado's Garfield County last year alone.
"We are basically pro-energy," said Don Davis, a commissioner in nearby Rio Blanco County. He said the industry, from coal mining to gas drilling, contributes as much as 80 percent of the county's revenue.
The economy in much of western Colorado went into a severe downturn after its last big bust on May 2, 1982, the day Exxon Corp. closed oil-shale operations in Parachute and pulled out 2,200 jobs. Since then, many rural communities have cashed in on mountain vistas and a slow pace to attract retirees, entrepreneurs, and tourists.
Now comes a new energy rush: The government estimates that Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming contain 41 percent of the nation's gas reserves.
Greg Schnacke, administrator of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association trade group, said the Rockies will play a key role in energy development as long as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and offshore drilling are off-limits.
Residents, newcomers and veterans both, have teamed up to block wells on their land and in such natural treasures as the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana, the Red Desert in Wyoming, the Book Cliffs in Utah, and the Roan Plateau. Some of these same ranchers, hunters, and environmental groups used to fight each other over such issues as livestock grazing on public lands and endangered species protection.
Things have changed: It was environmental groups that Tweeti and Linn Blancett turned to for advice when energy companies began drilling gas on their ranch in northwestern New Mexico.
Tweeti Blancett, a staunch Republican, said she rejects the Bush administration's argument that development must speed up to make the country more energy independent.
"We're going to have to slow these boys down or we're not going to have any West left," she said.
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