Montana should prepare for inevitable energy future

The future can’t be denied. Eventually, the waves of change will wash over even the most entrenched interests that cling desperately and irrationally to the past. Beaten and pitched back and forth by the breaking waves and their backwash, such interests lose their bearing. This seems to be the state of Montana’s coal industry, despite proactive efforts during the 2015 legislative session to consider how coal fit the new energy future.

By Mike Philips, guest columnist

Full Story: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/guest_columnists/montana-should-prepare-for-inevitable-energy-future/article_8a5e99c6-7a3d-567d-8c48-ea563a1f5712.html

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Coal isn’t dead yet

Again, the alarmist claim that 7,000 jobs will be lost is totally misleading. There are only 360 jobs in all the Colstrip plants, 100 in Colstrip 1 and 2. There are only about 1,900 jobs in all the coal mines and coal plants in Montana including affected railroad jobs. The Apollo Study predicted 7,670 new jobs would come to Montana from renewable energy projects. Wise use of training and impact dollars could lessen the pain hasten the recovery from a few job losses.

Thomas E. Towe of Billings is a former state senator, and author of the coal tax, coal tax trust fund and coal impact legislation.

http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/columnists/coal-isn-t-dead-yet/article_8de65656-77a3-5a42-ae6e-8796d219a36e.html