Senator Tester Stands Strong for Clean, Renewable Energy!
congresswatch | biofuels coal | Energy | Statewide
Senator Tester Stands Strong for Clean, Renewable Energy!
(And opposes a half-baked, dirty coal proposal)
As reported on 5/3/07 by the Helena Independent Record, Senator Jon Tester stood up for forward-looking, clean renewable energy, in a recent Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. Tester advocated homegrown “biofuel” solutions (renewable fuels from any agricultural crop, forest product or by-product that can be used to produce a liquid fuel, thermal energy or electricity) by voting against an ill-advised proposal that would have ignored biofuels while advancing increased coal production and unproven technologies.
The hearing focused on Senate Bill 987, the Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation Act of 2007, which was introduced in March by committee chair, Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). In last week’s hearing, committee member Craig Thomas (R-WY) introduced an amendment, against the wishes of senior Republican and Democratic committee members, to greatly increase coal extraction for “coal-to-liquid” fuel production.
Although Tester is not opposed to this technology, he stressed that much research needs to happen to determine if and how synthetic fuels can be safely derived from coal. The main concern with this type of liquid fuel, in addition to the disturbance coal extraction causes to the land, is that coal burning releases tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. CO2 is a known greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
Tester believes the capture and storage of carbon emissions from coal-to-liquids production must first be proven, before a major push is made to produce this new fuel. In a recent AP article he emphasized this point, stating that without capturing CO2, "we're setting ourselves up for a disaster. ... The carbon issue is that important."
He champions the utilization of crop-based alternative fuels, the production of which does not have the carbon emission impact of coal – and also supports Montana’s rural communities.
Many conservation and environmental organizations, such as the Western Organization of Resource Councils and the League of Conservation Voters, have voiced concerns about Senate Bill 987 as currently drafted and lauded Senator Tester’s vote last week in support of biofuels. One of the primary concerns among the conservation community is that the bill, as currently drafted, does not go far enough to foster biofuel production and does not effectively address solutions to combat global warming. For more concerns, download the NRDC factsheet entitled "Why Liquid Coal Is Not a Viable Option to Move America Beyond Oil".
Congressional Watch thanks Senator Tester for standing up for his principles and championing renewable energy that can be grown right here in Montana!
You can contact Tester at www.senate.tester.gov to thank him too!
To learn more about Senate Bill 987 and biofuels, visit the League of Conservation Voters; the Natural Resources Defense Council; the Western Organization of Resource Councils; and Northern Plains Resource Council.
A good LA Times article containing a good overview of the global warming implications of coal-to-liquids and the discussion in the U.S. Senate.
Also see the recent Letters to the Editor of the Billings Gazette from MCV members:
