Gov. Schweitzer Calls For Energy Conservation

MONTANA, Nov 20 (Neo Natura) - At a news conference yesterday, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer announced a new initiative seeking a 20% reduction in energy consumption by state agencies by the year 2010. He also discussed the climate change report presented to him today by the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality Richard Opper and announced that Montana has joined the Western Climate Initiative.

"Climate change is serious and Montana should lead by example," said Governor Schweitzer. "By setting a goal and working toward it, we can become leaders in addressing climate change. I would like to thank Director Richard Opper, DEQ staff and the members of the Climate Change Advisory Committee for their hard work on the report."

"Every agency will get to the goal in its own way," said Governor Schweitzer. "I have confidence that they will get there and I hope folks across the state will join the effort in their communities as well. This is not only the right thing to do but it also has huge cost saving potential for the taxpayers. This makes government more efficient."

While much of the reduction will come from a reduction in the use of utilities, Governor Schweitzer is also asking agencies to apply a Montana CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) standard and move state vehicle fleets to achieve an average of 30 miles per gallon or better. "With the exception of industrial vehicles and pickups needed for state work, many of the vehicles in the state fleet could be more efficient."

Governor Schweitzer also encouraged schools, universities, business and communities to join in the effort, saying "Montana will lead by example and Montana will make a difference."

Governor Schweitzer was also presented the Climate Change Report [pdf] today. The report was put together by the Climate Change Advisory Committee.

"I want to thank all the folks who worked so hard on this report," said Governor Schweitzer. "It is a monumental task to look at all the avenues and the council did an excellent job."

Here are some of the 54 recommendations made by the committee:

• Requiring that utilities in Montana include at least 25 percent of “renewable” energy in the electricity they sell by 2025.
• Montana should advocate for a national carbon tax or “cap-and-trade” system that limits industrial greenhouse gas emissions - either of which would create economic incentives to consume less fossil fuels.
• Montana should continue to offer incentives to develop clean energy in the state, such as tax credits.
• Implement greenhouse gas emission standards for major producers, such as power plants. However, the panel said the state should “consider a long-term phase-in” for such standards, to make sure the technology is available and that electricity supply won't be unduly affected.
• Require that any coal-to-liquid refineries constructed in Montana meet standards for emitting greenhouse gases, and that fuel produced from coal ultimately have emissions that are less than other fuels.
• Implement a widespread consumer-education program on energy efficiency and how consumers and businesses can cut energy consumption.
• Adopt “clean car” standards for light-duty vehicles to reduce smog- and soot-forming pollutants.
• Implement energy-efficient building codes in Montana that further reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.
• Increase the acres of cropland using “best management practices,” including conservation/no-tillage, to increase the level of organic carbon in the soil.
• Increase production of crops that can be converted to biodiesel fuel to the point that by 2020, 20 percent of the diesel fuel consumed is biodiesel.
• Expand the forestland base in Montana to absorb more carbon, in part by restocking forests that have been destroyed by fire.

Schweitzer said he has not been able to read all of the detailed items in the report, or decide which ones he can advocate.

Industry representatives on the panel took issue with some of the recommendations, saying they need more study before they are implemented. They said the costs to consumers of reducing carbon output in the state's electricity supply could be significant.

The group, in a letter to the governor, said the overall emissions goal may not be technologically or economically feasible.

"We should not set targets without a solid understanding of the potential to achieve them or the consequences to the state's economy," representatives of PPL Montana, Southern Montana Electric and Nance Petroleum wrote. All three sat on the global warming committee.

They also said there is no technology available to capture 90 percent of the carbon from new coal-fire power plants, as advocated by the panel.

Governor Schweitzer also announced that Montana will be joining the Western Climate Initiative. The Western Climate Initiative is a collaboration launched in February 2007 between the Governors of several western states to meet regional challenges raised by climate change. WCI is identifying, evaluating and implementing collective and cooperative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region.