In the Rockies today, a trio of energy stories before we move on to updates on the wildfires burning in the West.
The Associated Press reports on the state of the coal industry, now that coal-fired power production in the United States has dropped ten percent to 40 percent just in the past four years.
Utilities are capitalizing on an abundance of cheap natural gas for power production that provides an additional benefit of lower greenhouse gas emissions.
In Alberta, where oilsands operations are often criticized over the high cost of pulling the oil from the ground, as well as water used in current processes, a consortium is testing a new method that essentially microwaves the oil out.
And Colorado U.S. Sen. Mark Udall began his campaign on Tuesday to get Congress to pass an extension of the wind tax credit.
Udall said allowing the tax credit for wind projects to expire will cost the nation thousands of jobs.
Moving on to wildfires, residents who fled the High Park Fire in Colorado may learn today if their homes survived the blaze, which has scorched more than 43,000 acres.
Crews have the two largest wildfires burning in Utah contained, and the two fires burning in Wyoming are also nearing containment.
Montana Public Radio will broadcast the latest edition of Mountain West Voices tonight at 8:25.
Tune in to hear Clay Scott's conversation with three cyclists on cross-country odysseys–-from west to east and from south to north--who stopped to visit with him about what motivates them to undertake long distance treks, and what they learn from it.
Listen tonight on Montana Public Radio at 8:25 p.m. or online via the Mountain West Voices' website.
And if you're looking for an interesting book, take a look at Barbara Theroux's review of Mark Kurlansky's new book: Birdseye: The Adventures of a Curious Man in our On the Bookshelf.
Charles Birdseye, whose name is probably most recognized for the frozen-vegetable company that bears his name, was also a naturalist and a foodie long before that term was coined.
As always, Kurlansky provides flood of historical information in his book, and some tidbits I found particularly intriguing were Sir Francis Bacon's contribution to the frozen food industry way back in the 1600's and the congressional investigation into Goldman Sachs in 1932 over the loss of its $12-million investment in the company that would eventually become General Foods.
If you want to learn more, read the review and buy the book.