Montana officials concerned about Biden administration’s energy policies
Montana Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte and Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., are raising concerns about the Biden administration’s energy policies, warning of their detrimental impact on communities in their state and the country as a whole.
The two GOP officials will be appearing at the Rosebud Mine in Colstrip for a roundtable discussion with Montana energy industry leaders to address the consequences of recent regulations aimed at phasing out coal production in the state.
Echoing Gianforte’s sentiments, Daines accused President Biden of actively working to dismantle energy-based communities in parts of Montana.
“Joe Biden is actively seeking to undermine Colstrip and Montana’s energy production, from the EPA’s new MATS and Clean Power Plan 2.0 rules directly affecting the Colstrip Power Plant, to the ban on new coal leasing in eastern Montana impacting the Rosebud coal mine,” Daines stated. “This administration is determined to shut down the Colstrip community. I will fight against the radical left and Biden’s anti-energy agenda every day.”
The roundtable discussion, scheduled to commence at 1:30 p.m. MST, comes in the wake of the Biden administration’s Resource Management Plan Amendment, which prohibits future coal leases in eastern Montana until 2038.
According to the governor’s office, these regulations are part of a series of measures by the Biden administration specifically targeting Colstrip and coal-generated power.
Colstrip’s generating units contribute significantly to Montana’s baseload electricity supply and are consistently among the lowest-cost dispatchable power plants in the western U.S.
The Rosebud coal mine, covering 25,000 acres, produces approximately six to eight million tons of coal to support four nearby coal-fired generating units that power nearly 500,000 homes.
The administration’s actions could also jeopardize jobs in Montana, as Colstrip provides employment for around 360 workers at the power station and an additional 370 at the Rosebud Mine.
The EPA’s new rules could potentially lead to the premature retirement of units at the facility, costing Montana consumers over $1.1 billion over the next two decades, as per Northwestern Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan.
Gianforte is expected to criticize the new regulations as an “unacceptable burden on Montanans” during the discussion and highlight their implementation amidst rising inflation and mortgage rates.
In April, the Consumer Price Index reported continued price increases, with the energy index rising over 30% since Biden took office in January 2021.
“Energy is not a luxury in Montana, it’s a necessity. Every year, harsh winters emphasize the need for a diverse energy approach and reliable, baseload power,” Gianforte emphasized.
When the Biden administration announced the latest regulations earlier this month, Gianforte condemned the move as a favor to China and other adversaries, while disregarding hardworking Montanans.
“Instead of catering to the extreme left’s agenda, President Biden should prioritize the needs of American consumers and workers,” Gianforte asserted.
Last week, the House Committee on Oversight and Responsibility released a report by Republicans detailing how the Biden administration’s energy policies have led to increased gas prices, uncertainty in the power sector, confusion over new vehicles and appliances, and costly regulatory barriers that burden American consumers and businesses.
