Small towns whose economies rely on fossil fuels — and there are one or two of these in Oklahoma — are on a path to financial woes.
That’s the contention of an Obama administration economist, Noah Kaufman, who is now a senior research scholar in climate economics at Columbia University.
Writing for The Conversation, Kaufman contended that the economies of oil- and gas-dependent towns face a unique threat from global efforts to address the risks of climate change, which is fueled by the burning of oil and natural gas.
“Early signs of this transformation can be seen in last year’s international agreement to ‘transition away from fossil fuels‘ and in the spread of electric vehicles that are starting to displace gasoline- and diesel-powered cars, trucks and buses,” Kaufman wrote.
Kaufman pointed out that efforts toward a so-called just transition toward cleaner energy have been primarily directed to communities reliant on coal production.
Politicians who hail from oil and gas towns have put off preparing for an economic shift, Kaufman said, in part because while coal production is on the decline, oil and gas production has continued to increase; consequently, there’s no sense of urgency.
An F-150 with a V8 engine might be the vehicle of choice in western Oklahoma, but the world’s bestselling car right now is the Tesla Model Y, and every major automaker is reducing its gasoline-powered assembly capabilities in favor of electric vehicles.
Kaufman wrote that sooner or later, that will mean a reduction in oil and gas production and the economic benefits—high wages and gross production taxes—that come with it. That could be as devastating for some Oklahoma towns as the loss of a railroad was a century ago.
“The United States is experiencing abundant oil and gas production today,” he wrote. “Policymakers know risks are coming. But so far, the country is failing to prepare communities for harder days to come.”
More worth reading:
Small Oklahoma Cities Try to Reckon with Homelessness
Though they present themselves as quaint, family-centered communities, many smaller cities like Shawnee harbor deep-seated animosity between neighbors as the towns reckon with increasingly visible homeless populations. [The Oklahoman]
Freedom Caucus Comes to Oklahoma Legislature
Oklahoma’s Legislature became the newest member of a national network of conservative lawmakers this week with the launch of the latest Freedom Caucus chapter. The State Freedom Caucus Network is a right-wing national organization with an official presence in 12 state legislatures. The caucuses are known for creating disruption, stalling legislative action and garnering publicity and attention. [Oklahoma Voice]
Officials Post Rules on Controversial Gender, Race Law
Oklahoma’s higher education officials posted rules that prevent public colleges and universities from requiring student participation in mandatory gender or sexual diversity training or counseling. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education passed the proposed rules on Thursday in compliance with House Bill 1775, which became law in May 2021. The bill forbids the teaching of some gender and race concepts. [Oklahoma Voice]
“We don’t ban books, and we don’t ban students because of who they see when they look in the mirror.”
—Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin
Ciao for now,
Ted Streuli
Executive Director, Oklahoma Watch
tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org
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