| By Stephanie - Jul 29, 2010 2:20:30 PM ET |
A new study from the National Wildlife Federation came out today, which emphasizes the fact that oil spill aren’t just limited to the Gulf of Mexico. While the Gulf Coast is still dealing with the worst environmental disaster in the history of the US, Michigan now has to deal with one of the worst spills in Midwest history.The EPA estimates that more than 1 million gallons of oil may have spilled into the Kalamazoo River since Monday morning. Just how much oil is that? According to the AP:
An 800,000 gallon spill would be enough to fill 1-gallon jugs lined side by side for nearly 70 miles. It also could fill a walled-in football field, including the end zones, with just under 2 feet of oil.
According to the EPA, oil is no longer leaking, but the spill is still wrecking the river’s ecology, killing fish, and coating wildlife. Not to mention the tragedy if the oil reaches Lake Michigan.
Enbridge Energy, the same firm behind the Michigan spill, has had leaks in Minnesota 11 times since 2002. Our state definitely isn’t immune to oil spills, and not just because our loons migrate to the Gulf. From 2000 to 2009, Minnesota has had an average of one pipeline spill every other month for ten years.
We’ve been dependent on oil for a long time—the United States currently accounts for about 23 percent of global consumption. Last year, as a nation, we consumed more than 286 billion gallons. With oil spills happening all over the country, including Minnesota, the time is now to really invest in a clean energy economy. We can make our state healthier while protecting the environment and the wildfire in it.
If you want to see how much your Senators take from dirty energy corporations, and how to demand that they stand with us and create jobs through clean energy initiatives, head over here.
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