Shell, meanwhile, puts it flatly: “Stresses on our environment are increasing.” It shows consumers two options. In the first, policymakers continue to sweep the issue under the rug, paying little attention to efficiency until supplies tighten up. In the second, forward-thinking local efforts to cut down on emissions gain traction, and we put a premium on innovation. This, Shell says, represents our best hope for a sustainable future.

Halliburton wouldn’t have donated $3 million to a planned University of Wyoming energy research complex if it didn’t consider the research to be done there, which will include how to extract energy more efficiently as well as sustainably, worthwhile. It’s in the industry’s best interest to acknowledge what the scientific community knows: Human activity, including the use of industry extracted fossil fuels, causes climate change. Even if an individual chooses to put his or her head in the sand, there's no denying that a significant majority of Americans believe the scientific consensus on climate change. Wyoming workers must be ready to serve those energy customers, regardless of personal beliefs.