Environment America lauds the U.S. House’s passage of three sweeping public lands bills

We don’t need to ruin our precious landscapes to meet our energy needs

Environment America

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives has passed three land conservation bills: the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act (H.R. 1373), the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act (H.R. 2181) and the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act (H.R. 823).

Steve Blackledge, senior director of Environment America’s Conservation Program, issued the following statement in response:

“Some places are too special, too hallowed to allow the destruction and pollution that comes with uranium and coal mining, or oil and gas drilling. By passing these bills, the House is rightly embracing the value of conservation — protecting our iconic national parks, safeguarding our public lands and drinking water, and establishing new wilderness areas for future generations.

“If there weren’t other ways to meet America’s energy needs, we could have an honest debate about the tradeoffs of nature versus energy dominance. But this is 2019. Clean renewable energy is on the rise, and we can meet our energy needs from those sources. 

“It’s a spectacularly lousy tradeoff to ruin America’s stunning natural environment for energy when we can get it from the sun and the wind. We’re glad a majority in the House sees it that way.”

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Environment America is a national network of 29 state environmental groups. Our staff work together for clean air, clean water, clean energy, wildlife and open spaces, and a livable climate. Our members across the United States put grassroots support behind our research and advocacy. Environment America is part of The Public Interest Network, which runs organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world, a set of core values, and a strategic approach to getting things done.