Trends and issues associated with energy development in the West

Background/Question/Methods

Expanding the production of domestic energy resources has become an increasingly important National priority during the last decade.  The Rocky Mountain West is endowed with a diverse and rich mix of energy resources and is an important region for energy production in the United States.  As energy production in the Rocky Mountain West increases, there is a concomitant need to better understand the patterns and processes associated with energy development and the potential effects of development on landscapes and ecosystems.  Drivers for development, existing areas in production, projected trends, and potential environmental considerations are examined with emphasis on wind energy and unconventional gas.

Results/Conclusions

Many of the areas with energy development or development potential also include other resource values of Federal, State, and local interest.  The responsible development of energy resources will require evaluating tradeoffs, balancing multiple demands, and understanding the potential outcomes of management alternatives on ecosystems at multiple scales.  This paper provides a broad overview of energy resource trends in the Rocky Mountain West including the use of hydraulic fracturing to develop unconventional hydrocarbon resources.  Since publication of Rocky Mountain Futures in 2002, there has been rapid growth in the development of energy resources and in particular unconventional hydrocarbon resources and wind energy.  Research, technical assistance, and objective, systematic methods are critically needed for evaluating the cumulative effects of energy development—including potential effects of energy development on other resource values.