A new study from the group Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development says that rural communities depend on adjacent land for their economic health. That can either be land for energy development or the outdoors. The report finds that ten percent of the jobs in Cody are connected to spending on fishing, hunting and wildlife. But impact from nearby energy development land can also help the local economy. But Trout Unlimited’ s Brad Powell says there should be a balance between the two.
“Through the peaks and valleys of resource development jobs, the outdoor economy continues to provide a diverse and sustainable source of jobs and economic opportunities to many communities in the West,” says Powell.
The report says that Development focused county per capita incomes were around 30-thousand dollars a year. That’s compared with 38 thousand dollars a year in conservation focused counties.
