Senator talks energy
during visit to Central Montana

by JIM DULLENTY
News-Argus Staff Writer

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) on Friday in Lewistown echoed recent statements by Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D-Mont.) about energy development: Under the Democrats, it is taking place in Montana.

Tester said critics who say there’s been a lot of talk and no action are wrong.

“A lot of stuff is happening here,” said the state’s junior senator. “There is a lot of drilling (for oil and natural gas) going on around the state. The Bakken oil field extends into eastern Montana and there’s a lot of drilling in that.”

He insisted the Bull Mountain coal mine, 20 miles south of Roundup, will become active. He noted that the land has been purchased, which is needed for a railroad to haul Bull Mountain coal and “that’s a big step forward.” The railroad spur would link the mine with the main BNSF Railway Co. line near Billings.

Tester said he recently attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Butte for a cellulosity ethanol plant, which produces ethanol from straw. One of Tester’s aides later said the firm is A. E. Biofuels and that cellulosity ethanol is any ethanol made from cellulose such as found in straw, wood chips or other plant materials.

Renewables are a big source of energy and the straw ethanol plant at Butte is one example, Tester said. He said the Butte plant will be using Montana straw. There can be refineries like that in a lot of small communities around Montana, Tester said. He called the Butte plant “a good first step.

“I think it (energy development) is starting in Montana. At Bull Mountain they will be pulling coal out for a couple of decades,” said Tester. He added that a plant in Missoula makes solar panels which are being shipped around the world. He said there is not much demand for the panels in Montana now.

The senator from Big Sandy said the Democrats have had drilling plans on the docket in Congress and he’s in favor of looking at drilling where it can be done without harm to the environment. He said Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) has a “big bill on renewable energy” in the Senate.

One difficulty in more drilling is the transporting of the oil through pipelines, Tester said. In eastern Montana, the infrastructure is such that transporting more oil will be difficult. In addition, there is a shortage of rigs that can do the drilling in Montana, Tester said.

“There’s places (throughout the country) they can drill but the problem in the Senate has been that they (the Republicans) have prevented us from doing it. There are drilling bills we could have voted on,” said Tester.

Any energy policy must stop speculation and continue drilling where appropriate, Tester said. Along with that, the country must develop renewable energy such as solar, wind, clean coal and conservation, the senator said.

Tester believes that global warming is a real threat although he hopes it is not real.

“We’ve got to treat it as a real threat, whether it is or not. I don’t mean too many restrictions (on industry) but internationally we must get our arms around it,” Tester said.

Turning to politics, the Montana senator said he is not sure if Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is planning a coup at the Democratic National Convention set to start shortly in Denver. He said, “I read the same newspapers you do, but who knows.”

Tester said he is unsure if he will attend the convention. He said he needs to go home to Big Sandy and harvest his grain.

“I’m comfortable with (Sen. Barack) Obama (D-Ill.). He has a good plan for rural America. He said he would have voted for the farm bill (which passed) and McCain said he would have vetoed it. Obama is someone who could do good for Montana.”

Tester was interviewed at the American Legion building where he met with veterans to hear their concerns.

The biggest complaint from veterans he has met around the state is that they are having trouble getting their benefits. He said some veterans fall through the cracks, problems in bureaucracy, paperwork, or other reasons. He said VA offers great care but it’s getting in the door that is the problem.

If veterans happened to make over $10,000 they do not get the benefits lower income veterans get, Tester said.

“Veterans suggested they need an ombudsman who can help those who are denied their claims. It doesn’t mean the VA Department has been at fault, it just means that the regulations harm some who need the help. They also brought up loss of records.

“It’s hard to figure out a person’s disability if the records are lost by the VA,” said Tester.

Following his visit with veterans at the American Legion building, the senator visited the new veterans clinic at 629 NE Main St. in Lewistown. The clinic, which opened in July, is the first VA health facility in Lewistown.