Climate change activists disrupt Utah oil auction
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah environmentalists hope their disruption of a federal oil-and-gas lease auction and the purchase of development rights on a small stretch of land by an author and activist bring attention to a push to halt fossil fuel extraction on Western lands.
But oil and gas industry officials say environmental writer Terry Tempest Williams’ bid on at least 800 acres is insignificant. And, they say the group’s refusal to stop singing that led 100 of them to be escorted from the auction Tuesday in Salt Lake City will give the industry fuel to push the Bureau of Land Management to hold online auctions in the future. There were no arrests.