Right before the holidays I had a second occasion to speak in Longmont and several of my peers were there. I stood up to give my three minute public-invited-to-speak talk, and was embarrassed to find my heart racing and voice shaking.
I speak publicly all the time, and very rarely get nervous anymore. So this was cause for reflection.
I took this COGA job two years ago because I really thought that as an environmental scientist with extensive experience with the oil and gas industry, I could help build a bridge between concerned communities and the oil and gas industry. I have worked with the industry for years and understand both our operations and our communications failings. I feel passionate about both the need for responsible energy and engaged, educated conversations on the topic.
And so public meetings make me nervous.
First, there are very real emotions on display by the public participants. These emotions always move me, whether they are cautious inquisitiveness or passionate fear revved up through inflammatory misinformation. I strive to really hear what the public participants are saying, and to empathize with their concerns, fear, and anger. And that gets my pulse racing out of empathy.
But second, I have a passionate desire to correct the misinformation. There is so much blatantly untrue information about oil and gas information at these public meetings. Everything from urban legends gone wild, to myths perpetuated by Gasland, to individuals’ fears stated as facts.
And this is why I get nervous.
So much emotion deserving of empathy. So much misinformation and little to no opportunity to correct it. The impotence of seeing scared citizens and uncertain decision makers taking in so much inaccuracy drives the blood to beat in my ears. In three minutes, how can I inspire them to look further, question the information, and participate in the conversation about responsible energy development?
If you have taken the time to read this, I thank you. As a community united in our nearly insatiable desire for energy (especially domestic energy), we must also unite in an insatiable desire for reliable information and inquisitive conversation.
Although my voice will likely shake, you will see me at the next meeting.
Reader Discussion
The fracking issue makes us all nervous. In some ways it may be the defining issue of our time. Big corporations and big money have limited what ordinary citizens can do to stop this behemoth, which is so potentially devastating to our health, our water supply, and our environment. Meanwhile, alternative sources of energy are more or less suppressed.
Some FACTS that scare me. The BETEX leak many times over the allowed limit at Rider Well #1 in Longmont for at least 15 years on record with the COGCC continues to leach into our 10’ deep water table. It has not been remediated to allowable limits. Current regulations and Best Management Practices are not sufficient if this has been allowed for 15+ years. There was no disclosure to municipalities or adjacent properties for this contaminations above acceptable limits. This has allowed the SVVSD to construct a school a few hundred feet away. A city inspection at the Stamp Well, 150’ from Union Reservoir in Longmont, has a BETEX leak above limits. It was reported last year to the COGCC by Longmont. The COGCC has done nothing about this. Pretty major flaws. The reason we continue to question the industry are FACTS like these. We bring up these issues and they are ignored. Who is not ready to participate in responsible energy development?
Tisha, I was so impressed with your presentation this evening in Eire. Thank you for all your efforts in continuing to dispel the misinformation that is so pervasive in our industry in this day and age.
Tisha,
You’re shaking because you know that fracking is bad, bad, bad, and you’ve allowed yourself earn your living being its apologist. I would have trouble sleeping at night if I were in your position. Let’s just make the oil and gas industry abide by the same Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act etc etc etc that tricky Dick Cheney and his / your industry henchmen snuck past the American public—THEN tell us how safe this practice is. Good grief.
The only misleading information appears to be; the Oligarchic Industry’s greed is so pervasive that it will do nearly anything for money. It destroys for money. It overturns lives for money. It degrades the environment, and human health for money. It’s a virus that cannot get enough. It’s the cancer of America. It appears to be the single most callous industry the world will ever see. The citizens need energy independence to rid themselves from your force fed fossil filth! You should be ashamed of your propaganda and lack-of scientific reasoning to impose the probability of grave risk on communities and create hundreds of thousands of ‘Superfund’ sites all across America. You should be ashamed. Absolutely ashamed! WE WILL OVERTURN YOUR EXEMPTIONS AND YOU WILL COME TO A GRINDING HALT!
If this is edited or removed, we will send it to our 80 country contituents which comprise of millions of readers.
Tisha, you are doing fine work presenting facts on behalf of those of us who think the oil and gas industry is one of the brightest and most enduring lights in the economy. Don’t let those who hide behind organization names such as WTFRACK intimidate you. If ever you feel personally threatened by individuals or those who post their vitriol, by all means quickly involve the appropriate police authorities.