For years Wyoming has been an energy colony for the rest of the country. Though extractive energy has brought jobs and money to our coffers, it also has brought impacts to our air, land, water and quality of life.

While these impacts could have been minimized by using best available technology and good planning, state-of-the-art technology has been the exception. Consequently, cumulative impacts have impaired not only Wyoming’s once-pristine quality of life, but, similar worldwide impacts have been altering the function of our entire planet. Creating a sustainable lifestyle using renewable energy has been promoted as a solution. But now that using renewable energy is occurring, we are discovering that it is going to be an enormous challenge to do it right.

Consider the huge footprints of wind farms.

A county official discussed this recently. "While reducing carbon is important, do you realize how much energy it takes to manufacture a wind turbine? The carbon footprint happens up front. Then, it will take five semi-trucks to bring the pieces of each turbine to the site upon a permanent road system. It will be permanent because over the years replacement parts will be needed. Additionally, there will also be easements and road systems for the power lines to carry the power generated."

This official pointed out how other uses of the land will be marginalized. "Wind farm operators don’t want folks hunting with high-power rifles nearby," he said. "Nor do they want vehicle traffic on their roads. Wind farm areas won’t be multiple-use areas."

A wildlife biologist pointed out the permanent impacts to habitat. "Unlike coal, oil and gas development that is reclaimed when the resource is extracted, wind farms are likely to be permanent features in the landscape. Just think how much land mass is needed and taken out of commission for a wind farm?"

Massive solar panel farms are also land hogs.

Does this mean that wind and solar aren’t a viable component for sustainable energy?

No, it doesn’t. But, it does mean that location is very important. And, perhaps we need to rethink the practice of transmitting energy long distances via pipe and power lines.

Does it make sense to transport power to metropolises thousands of miles away? Not only does it leaves us vulnerable to natural disasters or terrorist attacks, is it fair to the Western states to fill our open spaces with huge wind and solar farms and transmission lines? Don’t states and local communities have some responsibility to be sustainable?

Back in the Sixties a gentleman by the name of Robert Rodale stressed the importance of sustainable, energy-efficient communities. He talked about putting construction money into creating energy efficient homes instead of energy hog mega-mansions. He emphasized various technologies such as passive solar, personal wind turbines, solar panels, in line heating of hot water, underground homes or homes built into a south-facing hillside.

Further, he said, people need to limit the amount of water they flush down the drain to be treated in sewage plants. He discussed how much water could be saved with composting toilet and household waste systems. While these systems take up a chunk of square feet in your home, over the years they have become more efficient. In fact they are so efficient that there is only a small block of composted material at the end of a year.

Recently, I read a columnist urging the use of the French "bidet" instead of toilet paper. Think how much energy and pollution that would save! Paper plants tend to be horrible sources of pollution.

While Rodale and others like him were looking for ways to be more independent of costly utilities and food systems, their sustainable solutions could reduce our impact on the planet.

For this to be successful, local governments would need to approach zoning and new subdivisions in a different fashion. For instance, one of the requirements of a new subdivision could be to provide a source of energy for the homes. Part of that could be passive solar homes, solar panels or a few strategically located wind turbines. Composting waste systems also could be encouraged to make local water and sewer systems less costly and efficient.

Now, solar panels are being created that can be part of the siding for huge skyscrapers or individual homes. Obviously, that is very feasible. For many of us are already using outside lights with tiny built in solar panels, electrical stock fences powered by a solar panel or roof top solar panels. Many remote residences and industrial facilities depend on solar panels.

Our society needs to be thinking creatively and outside the box. Whether you believe in global warming or not, there is no question pollution and needs of too many people are becoming an enormous problem.

Years ago, a friend who is a wildlife biologist philosophically commented on this problem. "Whenever a species runs out of habitat, too large herd numbers, drought, and so on, they experience disease and starvation. That will happen to humans also."

Rather than leave it to Mother Nature to reduce our numbers, I would like to believe that humans can learn to live sustainable lifestyles in sustainable communities and be good stewards of the place we call home.

Barbara Parsons lives in Rawlins.