Op-Ed: Idaho’s Future Should Never be for Sale
By Shelly Brock • June 16, 2022The following Op-Ed was submitted by Shelley Brock. Note: Op-Eds do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of those at the Idaho Dispatch.
In recent months, oil industry representatives have launched an aggressive PR campaign designed to curry favor with the public and media over controversial Idaho drilling operations. Their attempts to politicize the issue and discredit citizens who express concerns over the well-documented threat oil and gas extraction presents to residential communities, private property rights, critical water resources and public health are straight out of the industry’s playbook.
Their frustration with this reported $160 million investment is understandable. In the decade plus since modern drilling started here (after 85 years of commercial failure by larger companies) the never-ending promises of massive riches for taxpayers and royalty owners, and countless jobs this industry was suppose to deliver have never materialized.
Over those 12 years public records show Idaho citizens received a paltry $1,082,771 in severance taxes, while spending $3,119,893 to police the industry; for a net loss of $2,037,121.
Likewise, the last 3 fiscal years of oil and gas leasing on our endowment lands has returned $30,800 in revenue while costing taxpayers $364,643; for a net loss of $333,843.
In striking contrast, agribusiness – the single largest contributor to Idaho’s economy – contributes $26.4 billion in sales (18% of Idaho’s total economic output) annually, according to reports from the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF).
Outdoor recreation contributes a reported $7.8 billion to Idaho’s economy annually according to Idaho Business for the Outdoors (IBO).
Oil and gas operations bring transient out-of-state workers for temporary labor, but render only a literal handful of permanent jobs. Representatives recently lauded that they “currently provide five full time local jobs and will add a sixth field position soon” (along with a few vendor jobs).
In contrast, Idaho agribusiness contributes 123,100 jobs (1 in every 8), according to the most recent University of Idaho Extension report published by the IFBF.
Idaho outdoor recreation supports 78,000 jobs and $2.3 billion in wages and salaries per year, according to statistics from the IBO.
Agribusiness and outdoor recreation are major drivers of Idaho’s economy. Their lifeblood is clean, abundant water from our aquifers, rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Why in the world would we risk sacrificing our greatest bounty and our children’s heritage to an unsustainable industry that has done nothing but cost Idaho taxpayers money and has contaminated air, soil and water resources with alarming frequency across the globe?
Citizens are paying dearly for an out-of-state corporation and a few wealthy large landowners — including public officials from the highest office on down with personal investments in the business — to benefit financially. What other industry would be allowed to operate here in “fiscally conservative” Idaho while draining taxpayers of millions of dollars? What’s in it for us?
We’ve seen multiple lawsuits by homeowners forced to allow drilling under their property, against their will, and by angry landowners who alleged they were cheated out of their royalties by operators who then filed for bankruptcy. We’ve seen countless complaints of bullying by landmen and seismic crews; conflicts of interest between the industry and regulators; illegal lobbying, unpermitted drilling procedures and pumping of toxic chemicals underground through our drinking water aquifers; dishonest production reporting and downplaying the scope of their operations. Officials admit the industry has been allowed to write their own rules, and proposed 2023 legislation will strip even more protective rights from property owners. The fox doesn’t just guard the henhouse; he is allowed to build it.
Corporate profits and government overreach should never supersede the sanctity of our constitutional freedoms or the preservation of our property rights, our irreplaceable water resources and our right to be safe and secure in our greatest lifetime investment – our homes. Idaho’s future should never be for sale.
***
Shelley Brock is a longtime Idaho resident; health-care professional, community justice advocate and grandmother. She is Board President of the Idaho grassroots non-profit Citizens Allied for Integrity and Accountability and is a candidate for the Idaho House of Representatives in District 14.
Sources:
https://outdoorindustry.org/wp
https://www.idahofb.org/news-room/posts/how-vital-is-agriculture-to-idaho/
https://ogcc.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019-IDL-AR2019-two-pages-11212019.pdf
https://www.idl.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/IDL-AnnualReport-WEB-Pages-01142021.pdf
https://www.idl.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/11/IDL-AnnualReport-Financials-11152021.pdf
* Please email me for data on IOGCC expenditures vs returns if necessary, and other sources that I’m unable to attach here.
Tags: Gas, Idaho, Oil, Shelley Brock
7 thoughts on “Op-Ed: Idaho’s Future Should Never be for Sale”
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I moved to Idaho almost 18 years ago from the heart of ‘Oil Country’ – Oklahoma. Experience tells me that Ms. Brock’s article is truly well-researched and quite correct. I thank her for putting together such a well-done piece and completely concur.
Even if she was an R, I would never vote for her given her “vision” of Idaho’s oil and gas production. If there’s problems with this industry, it behooves the State to get aggressive and take back lands from Federal “ownership” so Idaho can have oversight; it’s fundamental to State sovereignty. Hasn’t Biden done enough damage to the oil and gas sector without Brock piling on the State level?
The state is not reviewing money because we have too much federal controlled land. The Federal government has taken out land and is making the profit. We need out lands back
I applaud Ms. Brock for a well-researched article, but have to ask the question: what does oil and gas have to do with agribusiness? Answer: it doesn’t. Idaho isn’t going to replace agribusiness with oil and gas leasing. The goal is for such to supplement other Idaho businesses – not to mention potentially lowering the cost of fuel for Idahoans!
I do agree with Ms. Brock that the ROI seems a bit backwards, so I invite her to delve into the regulations which require such outlays on the part of the State Government to “police” these exploratory efforts. Please give us a report. I don’t think it prudent to spend millions of dollars of taxpayer funds policing these events so how about having the explorers cover part or all? Do we really need all these regulations?
The concern is also brought up about land ownership. I agree that private land should be private and no one should be forced to allow exploration on their property. By the same token, however, I have to ask why the Federal Government owns 62% of our Great State?!?!
An excellent article, very well researched and presented. She is spot on. But our politicians will sell us down the river for money to get re-elected, for personal gain, for the promise of POWER. You can start with the governor and work down to Wasden and Bedke, and just keep gowing – greed has no political lines. And the oil companies have deep pockets to help in their efforts. Our beautiful state is turning purple, and if you doubt that just look at Kootenai county, Even the county commissioners are involved.
Consider a vote for Bundy if we want to keep Idaho…Idaho! Reclaim our Territorial Idaho land and secure every Idahoan’s land and soil rights is paramount to Constitutional rights for We The People. It won’t happen with doo-Little in office! Guaranteed!
I have no idea how “well researched” this article is. One needs to verify all of the claims made.
I certainly would not approve of any driller usurping private or public landowner rights as it is alleged. A clean and clear agreement must be made in advance of any extraction operation. Best practices must be adhered to by the extractor. Water tables must be protected.
Now…I must remind everyone that you would have ZERO agriculture that can provide food to the masses in appreciable volume WITHOUT oil and gas provided. Cannot anyone make that connection? No Farms=No Food….but No Gas/Oil=No Farms. Where does Miss Brock think any modern durable or consumable good comes from….faries?
Idaho has to consume all of its oil/gas from Utah and Montana. That’s partly why we pay above average for gas at the pump.
And no….there will not be electric combines to replace the gas/diesel ones we use.