Colorado and It's Energy Sources

I am lucky enough to live in the beautiful state of Colorado. Colorado has an extensive supply of conventional fossil fuel and renewable energy resources. Per EIA (Energy Information Administration) 2009, "The State contains several fossil fuel-rich basins, including the Sand Walsh, Piceance, Paradox, and San Juan basins in the west, and the Denver and Raton basins in the east. Ten of the Nation’s 100 largest natural gas fields and three of its 100 largest oil fields are found in Colorado. Substantial deposits of bituminous, sub bituminous, and lignite coal are also found in the State." In the house that I live in Thornton Colorado, our primary types of energy are electricity, natural gas as well as a pellet-burning stove for the winter. Electricity is the foundation of the energy usage in Thornton. Per EIA, "Coal- and natural gas-fired power plants dominate electricity generation in Colorado. Coal-fired plants account for over seven-tenths of the State’s generation and natural gas-fired plants account for close to one-fourth. Colorado produces coal from both underground and surface mines, primarily in its western basins, and large quantities of coal are shipped into and out of the State by rail. Colorado uses about one-fourth of its coal output and transports the remainder to markets throughout the United States. Colorado also brings in coal, primarily from Wyoming, to supplement local production." The earliest coalmine, The Denver Basin Raton Basin coalmine is inactive but Colorado does have 11 active mines. Most of them are located in western Colorado and per CMA (Coal Mining Association), "The Total Value of Coal Produced in Colorado in 2011 is estimated to be $1.1 Billion." While the monies these coalmines produce are a huge factor in Colorado's economy the damage on the environment, these mines produce, are they worth the environmental damage in the end? I agree Barbara Freese when she states, "The mundane mineral that built our global economy and even