Montana Legislature
Schweitzer Unveils Clean and Green Energy Plan
By Daniel Testa, 3-16-07
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| Caption: Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Sen. Jesse Laslovich, D-Anaconda, unveil the governor's "clean and green" energy proposals Friday. Photos by Dan Testa. | |
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Standing in front of a line of solar and battery-powered cars, Gov. Brian Schweitzer unveiled the cornerstone of his “clean and green” energy legislation Friday.
“This will redefine Montana as a leader in energy,” Schweitzer said, as a young staffer in suit and sneakers tried to look discreet as a human easel for a backdrop proclaiming “Montana: The Future of Energy.”
But as he zipped around the statehouse driveway test-driving smaller-than-subcompact, electric vehicles, Republicans were already questioning the governor’s introduction of substantial energy legislation on the 56th day of the session.
Schweitzer’s initiative encourages new energy development by giving property tax breaks to investors willing to develop alternative fuels like biodiesel, or for power plants that take steps to keep greenhouse gas emissions like carbon from reaching the atmosphere.
Manufacturers of renewable energy components like wind turbines, solar fuel cells and hybrid or electrical cars would get their property taxes slashed in half.
A coal-powered energy plant that uses carbon sequestration would see its property taxes on that equipment reduced by 50 percent. But a new coal plant that fails to sequester carbon would get its property taxes doubled.
The pipelines and energy transmission lines that carry clean energy or carbon to its sequestration sites receive a 75 percent tax cut.
And as an immediate conservation incentive, licensing fees are waived for new cars that get 35 miles-per-gallon or better.
Referring to Schweitzer’s February 2006 appearance promoting clean-coal technology on CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” Senate Minority Leader Corey Stapleton wondered what took so long.
“It’s been a year since he was on ‘Sixty Minutes,’” Stapleton said. “Why didn’t he introduce this in January or February?”
Schweitzer fires back that the main points of the legislation have been public for months. If his bill is getting a late roll-out, Schweitzer added, it’s because legislative staffers have been swamped with the demands of drafting the eight GOP budget bills introduced on the session’s 40th day.
The sponsor added that the language of such a complex bill requires careful consideration.
“We wanted to make sure that we got it right,” said Sen. Jesse Laslovich, D-Anaconda.
But as of Friday afternoon, the bill was still only available in a preliminary form and a hearing had yet to be scheduled. The deadline for the bill to make it out of the Senate is April 3.
Stapleton also charges that carbon sequestration technology is too new to provide any short-term foreseeable benefits, if at all.
“It’s like watching Star Trek and assuming that it’s all true and real,” Stapleton said, “like you can get a tax credit for a photon absorber.”
House Federal Relations, Energy and Telecommunications Committee Chair Alan Olson, R-Roundup, sees some inherent problems with giving tax breaks to transmission lines based on the amount of clean energy carried.
But with Schweitzer’s bill, the more green energy transmitted, the bigger the tax cut, so carriers have an incentive to avoid carrying energy that doesn’t meet “clean and green” standards, but is otherwise legal.
“It doesn’t come right out and say that it’s a carbon tax,” Olson said. “I’m not out for punishing somebody that meets the standards of the law.”
Olson calls the bill “a good start” but doesn’t think it will be the catalyst to coal development in eastern Montana desired by many in his party.
Senate Natural Resources Committee Chair Greg Lind, D-Missoula, said incentives are just what’s needed to drive sequestration technology development and compel energy producers that don’t capture carbon to do so.
“If you go out and capture carbon now, you are at a competitive disadvantage,” Lind said. “If folks are compelled or incited in some way to do it, it will put a shove behind the technology.”
As for concerns that his plans rely too heavily on untested technology, Schweitzer’s reply is simple.
“It’s OK to lead once in a while.”
[End of article]Stapleton reminds me of a buddy that showed up one day with two beautiful shiners. It was quite a sight. We asked him what the hell happened. Well sir, our pal responded that a guy in the bar the night before threatened to kick his ass, so he grabbed his ass and the guy hit him! While Corky Stapletone and his pals are grabbin' their asses, Schweitzer coldcocks again! These pathetic bozos will never learn. Every time they try to corner Schweitzer, he kicks their asses! I guess that's why I love the guy. And damn, it's funny as hell to see these guys grabbin' their asses every time Shcweitzer outdoes them!
Comment By Crying Cory Stapleton, 3-18-07The only thing Cory Stapleton can do is sit back, whine, and cry as once again the Gov. beats him to the punch. Cory, if energy is such a big issue for you why didn't you offer any legislation? And FYI for the Senator -- states like CA won't buy our energy unless it is zero carbon emisson. People elect officials to have vision and lead us into the future, but I guess your no Spock your just a follower. Live long and prosper Senator Stapleton.
Comment By Colonel Bain, 3-18-07This is Montana Gold which is found in patience and wit...Brian Our Gov.
Wonder of the car will haul a bale of hay and bucket of oats?
Boy I'm sure glad the Forgotten counties are in Montana..
Giddup!!
What about the coal plant to be built in Great Falls that is going to emit green house gases in the mega-millions. Montana is making some false claims when it comes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions
Comment By Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers!, 3-19-07Cindy, THAT one ain't never gonna get built! The moron city adminsTRAITOR jonny rotten lawton went off on a wild goose chase to apparently pad his resume, and he got caught! He figured that if Booby Gagnon could srew up royally and STILL end up living on his own island in Flathead Lake, he could too. But good ol' Great Falls, home to the greatest enviros in the state, caught little jonny BEFORE he could commit the crime. And now, the people in town will revolt before allowing that pollutin' monster to be built. No need for coal here! A coal byproduct maybe. We may have a need for some tar. Hot tar. And maybe some feathers to tar and feather that dumb sumbitch Lawton, but other than that, we don't need no coal! Mark my words. Ain't gonna happen. And Lawton will be lucky to get outta town without being run out for losing three million city dollars on his wild goose!
Comment By Yellowstone County Luvin, 3-20-07Well they can always build another plant in the Billings area. Any sort of industry that creates air pollution is welcome in Yellowstone County. The more toxic the environment here the more business our medical industry gets. Bring your old, your tired and those with chronic respiratory disease to our fair city so they can die a slow and expensive death in our first rate medical facilities.
Comment By Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers!, 3-20-07Hey, Luvin, I hear ya. I lived in Billings for about twenty years some time back. Most of that time, I lived in the Heights. When the wind was just right, the air from Lockwood at night was deadly. I MEAN SERIOUSLY DEADLY! You could not breathe! If it was a hot summer night, you had to immediately close all the windows in the house to attempt to block out the noxious mixture emitting from the refineries. But hey, I'm with ya! If SME wants to build a outdated, pollutin' monster coal plant, DO IT IN BILLINGS! I think it would be great! I'll support it! And hell, you can EVEN have jonny rotten lawton back! He's a friggin moron anyway!
Comment By Craig Moore, 3-21-07Larry Krajl, what does Walt Schweitzer think of this, since he appears to be the governor's energy policy guy. http://www.missoulanews.com/News/News.asp?no=6045
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For nearly half his term in office, Schweitzer has been promoting coal-to-liquids plants as the pillar of his energy policy. Last month the governor announced an agreement with a team of private companies to build one of the country’s first integrated gas combined cycle (IGCC) plants to gasify, rather than ignite, coal. Schweitzer touts it as the key to reducing American dependence on foreign oil, and claims the process removes most hazardous pollutants emitted from conventional coal plants. He also claims that carbon dioxide can be removed during the process and later sequestered underground where it won’t contribute to global warming. Bob Raney is a member of the Montana Public Service Commission. For more than 18 months he’s been involved with a Midwest Governors Association (MGA) working group on coal gasification and carbon sequestration. According to Raney, on multiple occasions when he has tried to get an audience with the governor and his staff to discuss IGCC issues, he’s been met at the door by Walter.
“When I go to talk to the administration about this I talk to Walter. That’s who they give me,” Raney said.
Schweitzer’s response is that his brother has the same rights every citizen has to participate in state government. Raney confirmed that Walter doesn’t merely observe meetings, but plays an active role in discussions.
“Walter is engaged,” Raney said, adding that he’s left meetings at the capitol under the impression that the governor’s brother was speaking on behalf of the administration.
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I guess the stench of nepotism would be masked by the Billings refinery odors.
WWWD! What Would Walt Do?? Too funny! Hey, for all the Schweitzer bashers out there let me just say that there ain't NOBODY more wacko enviro than the Environrmental Rangers! Bar none! Think I'm kidding? Well then, ask ol' John Fitzpatrick of NW energy what it was like during the cyanide wars! We were OUT THERE! Armed to the teeth. Just waiting for the bad guys to bring it on! But fortunately I-137 stopped them. So, my enviro credentials are intact. But let me say this. Watch the guv on the Charlie Rose show. It's an incredible performance. In a half hour, he presents the most comprehensive energy policy I'v EVER heard! And when one considers that the dick, cheney formed HIS policy behind closed doors, and it included a war in Iraq, Schweitzer's plan sounds pretty damn good! So, until someone comes up with a better plan, I say we go with Schweitzer's! Do I agree with everything he says? No. But by God I sure think he's the best we've got right now.
Comment By Jesse, 4-25-07Larry's horse is to high.
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