The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is holding a series of three meetings Sept. 30 thru Oct. 2 to take public comment on five options they’ve outlined for how Montana can comply with the EPA’s proposed rules to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Information about those options can be found here.
We encourage you to turn out to give your opinions on those five options. But more importantly, we encourage you to share your thoughts with DEQ and the governor about whether these EPA rules are a good idea or not.
If you can’t attend one of the meetings, you can sign an Online Petition to weigh in.
How Montana chooses to comply with this proposed rule is a relatively minor issue compared to the impacts to Montana resulting from how other states comply. Montana exports 75% of the coal we produce, most of it domestically. The coal-fired power plants in Montana export much of the electricity they produce. And most of the energy from Montana oil and natural gas is consumed in other states.
Simply put, our energy sector is a major part of Montana’s economy, and it could be devastated by the EPA rule.
Governor Bullock is right to plan ahead for Montana’s compliance in case the EPA’s rule goes into effect. But what we need him to do even more is to be a vocal voice for our energy industry in standing up to the Obama administration. A lot of Montana jobs are at stake. You can download talking points here.
You can make a difference. Plan to attend one of DEQ’s three meetings and give your input:
Colstrip - September 30, 6-8 PM
Colstrip High Auditorium
5000 Pinebutte Drive
Billings - October 1, 6-8 PM
MSU-Billings Library Building, Room 148
1500 University Drive
Missoula - October 2, 6-8 PM
Best Western Grant Creek Inn, Ponderosa Room
5280 Grant Creek Road
If you can’t attend, please sign the online petition to make your voice heard.
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