Montana News

Missoula City Council supports study of coal trains' effects

The resolution calls on the Corps of Engineers to conduct a “programmatic environmental impact statement” on the cumulative effects of air pollutants, traffic delays, coal dust, and noise pollution. It also calls for a public hearing in Missoula.

Former Montana coal mine manager says now is time to seek industry change

Those worried about potential leaps in the number of coal trains rolling through Missoula have a small window of opportunity to get changes made, according to a former coal mine manager.

Climate change vs. Easter bunnies and rock rabbits

Easter is still a great day for worship, candy in baskets, pagan equinox rituals and running around the yard finding eggs, but every year it gets quite a bit worse for bunnies - and our pikas.

Missoula leaders tout new federal limits on carbon pollution

The effects of carbon emissions are far-reaching, but group of Missoula leaders in government, health care, economics and even spirituality came together to tout the first federal limits on carbon pollution.

U.S. EPA announces proposal to limit carbon pollution from new power plants

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Obama administration answered the call, releasing a proposal to limit industrial carbon pollution from new power plants. The proposal builds on successful laws in California, Oregon, and Washington

Northwest seen as hot spot for jet biofuels

The goal is to establish the Northwest as a center for aviation biofuels by harnessing the presence of Boeing, Alaska Airlines and research labs across the state.

We must be aware of our planet's plight

While low snow affects winter recreation, the greater concern is water available for domestic and agricultural needs.

The U.S. Air Force dares you to laugh at their biofuel

According the Col. Col. Scott Reed, Commander of the 180th Maintenance Group, the switch to a camelina biofuel blend is actually going much more smoothly than a petroleum-to-petroleum fuel shift the Air Force made back in the 1990’s.

Northwest communities need to fight coal exports, trains

Those who live along the rail lines that would carry the coal through Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington share concerns about the hidden costs to health, safety, the environment and pocketbook.

Tester fighting for Montana’s wind industry

Senator joins bipartisan call for stable tax system to offer more certainty, create jobs.

Emerging energy solutions presented at Green Professionals Conference

One emerging energy centered in the Northwest is the search for sustainable aviation fuels. Ross Macfarlane explained that aviation industry leaders were pushing for innovation in this field.

Loss of wind energy tax credit may mean loss of many jobs

 

Montana electeds in favor of extending the energy tax credit for wind, solar and other renewable power projects

"The last thing we should do right now is pull the rug out from under local energy projects," said Rehberg. "Ultimately, the sooner we can find a way to support domestic energy production in the long term, the easier economic planning will be.

Our clean energy future and Keystone: To say Yes, you have to say no (and vice versa)

Today, we are joining together as never before to try to stop another attempt by Big Oil to hijack democracy and ram the Keystone Pipeline through Congress. Please join us by signing the petition right away, and then sending the link on to your friends.

Mining Montana coal comes with a high cost

Mining, transporting and burning 1.2 billion tons of Otter Creek coal would increase annual CO2 emissions by about 250 percent every year for 30 years, an increase of around 186 million tons per year.

2012 - Which way will we go?

We view 2012 as fundamentally about drawing the line in the sand about fossil fuels through some very high profile issues: the Keystone XL Pipeline, fossil fuel subsidies, coal exports off the West Coast and hydraulic fracking.

Researchers document profound cascading ecological effects as Rocky Mountain snowpack diminishes

A steady decline in Rocky Mountain snowpack the past few decades has led to a classic cascading ecological effect, with "powerful" shifts in mountainous plant and bird communities, according to scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey

We don’t have to choose between jobs and clean air

Investments driven by the EPA’s two new air quality rules will create nearly 1.5 million jobs, or nearly 300,000 jobs a year on average over the next five years – and at a critical moment for a struggling economy.

The home run we need: Biocarbon

A clean energy technology revolution is necessary – but it’s not sufficient – to solve the global climate crisis we face. We also need Biocarbon, “the Second Solution”, to scale up the capacity of Earth’s living systems to soak up carbon and successfully reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) in our planet’s atmosphere

Biocarbon solutions: Green Infrastructure

Kick-start the economy, create jobs, use less energy, beautify our cities and pull carbon pollution in the atmosphere back to earth – the best solutions make sense from multiple angles.