The main agricultural business in CO was ranching, but the government-linked NIMBYs destroyed honest ranching by real ranchers with their new animal protection law. The bipartisan residents here don’t allow any private sector scum to build small houses or start any small manufacturing shops here, either, or any large energy companies (e.g., uranium) to bring in loads of working class trash. It’s an animal-worshiper, environmentalist paradise in their minds (but really a dump-on-your neighbor wasteland).
They wisely avoid mentioning their part in Agenda 21 in local documents while only using some of its terminology in local, yocal commissioners’ meetings (”sustainable development,” “open space,” etc.). That way, when our government-connected Baby Boomer peers croak, their sisters in government will own the land. It all makes for a colorful and interesting environment of gossip and false accusations, neighbor against neighbor.
[Little irony and sarcasm there. I’m for freedom including property rights while watching the suburbanite termites originallly from the east and west coasts vacate again after their foreclosures. The West will be freer again after the other end of this default process. Out with the commies from the coasts, too recently descended from Europe! True American, working class rednecks from the Ozarks to the southeast, get up here! Bring your decorative yard refrigerator planters! And bring your freedom!]
There’s no need for cities to suck water from ranges 100 miles away. The boss constituents should have the high plains cities get their water from plains aquifers and build the necessary water treatment plants like everyone else (in the east). But they’re too lazy and mesmerized by foolishness about “pure mountain water.”
If they want to restrict something on the ranges, they should restrict each residential well to a slow pump (powered by small diesel, PV solar and/or wind) with a cistern (not that there’s any real need) after pumping out the silt with a regular AC pump for a few weeks. But those people lack hands-on, technical experience and have done their best to outlaw such experience for everyone else.
There’s always a way around over-regulation situations, BTW. Many are becoming technically and legally smarter, and many more will. I help to teach the peasants and will do so more often with each encroachment against real Americans. We are the “sustainable” permaculture—not those who regulate against healthy activities. We are the true conservatives.
There are considerations about other utilities, too, although water is probably most important. There’s alternative/backup heating, too, and that can be done much more efficiently with either masonry heaters (like fireplaces, for those who can afford) and rocket mass heaters (for those who need to do something more stealthy and/or less expensive for themselves).
Cheap and effective
http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp
Not so cheap but very effective
http://www.stovemaster.com/html_en/designsystem.html
Combination of the two (experimental—see info from MHA meetings and builds, other info on bell systems)
http://www.handprintpress.com/home-heat/recent-research-on-rocket-mass-heaters-and-bell-design/
Very effective (solar) and doesn’t require wood for those in climate with many sun days and some construction and plumbing experience (with many modifications possible, including thin steel, glass glazed collectors, etc.)
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/DHWplusSpace/Main.htm