Lawmakers to Review Governor's Climate Change Plan
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Contact: Todd Everts, Legislative Research Analyst, 406-444-3747 Gayle Shirley, Legislative Information Officer, 406-444-2957
Lawmakers will conduct their first review of a state plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during the Jan. 14 meeting of the Environmental Quality Council (EQC).
The Montana Climate Change Action Plan was crafted by the Governor's Climate Change Advisory Committee and released last November. It contains 54 recommendations intended to reduce state greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. The recommendations cover a wide array of practices in the areas of energy supply, transportation and land use, agriculture, forestry, waste management, and home and business energy use.
The EQC decided to examine the issue of climate change as part of its work during the interim between the 2007 and 2009 sessions. Some of the recommendations in the action plan would require new state laws.
The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. in Room 102 of the State Capitol in Helena. The EQC Agency Oversight Subcommittee will meet in that room in the morning.
Members of the public, including members of the governor's advisory committee, are invited to comment on the report. A copy is available online at http://www.mtclimatechange.us/CCAC.cfm
On Jan. 15, the EQC will reconvene at 8 a.m. to study conservation easements on state school trust lands. Representatives from conservation groups, agricultural interests, the wood-products industry, and the multiple-use movement will make presentations.
Also on the agenda are updates on energy development in the British Columbia portion of the Flathead Basin, the Environmental Public Health Tracking Project, and water adjudication.
A full agenda is available via the State of Montana online calendar at www.leg.mt.gov/calendar.htm.
The EQC is a bipartisan committee made up of lawmakers and members of the public. Legislative members are Sens. Bob Hawks, Bozeman; Christine Kaufmann, Helena; Dan McGee, Laurel; Jim Shockley, Victor; Bob Story, Park City; and David Wanzenreid, Missoula; and Reps. Norma Bixby, Lame Deer; Sue Dickenson, Great Falls; Julie French, Scobey; Carol Lambert, Broadus; Chas Vincent, Libby; and Craig Witte, Kalispell. Other members are John Brenden, Scobey; Brian Cebull, Billings; Diane Conradi, Whitefish; Douglas McRae, Forsyth; and Mike Volesky, Gov. Brian Schweitzer's policy adviser on natural resources.
For more information, contact Todd Everts, teverts@mt.gov or 406-444-3747.
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