We are here in Wright, WY, as we've sped through South Dakota, at a parking lot deciding if we want to talk with someone about renewable energy. As according to the Billlings Gazette in 2007, the town council approved a program to fund all of its' municpal energy using renewable energies, reducing it's annual carbon emissions by 345 tons. http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/07/04/news/wyoming/25-coal.txt
This is a unique area as it is one of the largest producers of coal in the nation, and this was evident as we passed Black Thunder Mine. On both sides of us were massive digs taking place. Four train tracks and hundreds of coal carts where riding to the east, as empty train carts were coming from the west. I had never seen such a large production, so it was even more exciting to hear that the town is looking at ways to offset their carbon emissions. We'll keep you informed as we try to talk with someone from the city.

Outside of tracking down coal mines, we also checked out the famous monuments in the area, Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore. Always a great history lesson to be learned when going through these areas. One has to be on their toes though, as propaganda tends to seep through.




We also checked out the original green house in South Dakota, right outside of the Badlands. For over 100years, through harsh winters and windy summers, the sodhouse has been intact. Though a (little) dirty on the floors and side walls, the temperature was noticeably cooler, plus they they had a great example of rooftop gardens. Though I wouldn't want to live in the house, we could probably learn a thing or too in temperture control and resource use.
And now we are on our way to Yellowstone. Hopefully, we'll have more opportunities with the wifi as it has been difficult to find out here in the prairie. What would Laura Ingalls do?