Governor's Climate Change Advisory Committee Issues Report

HELENA - A climate change report headed to the governor next month offers dozens of ways that greenhouse gases can be reduced by the state, such as requiring more renewable energy in electricity production and changing building codes to improve conservation.

A final draft version of a report from the governor's Climate Change Advisory Committee, which should be approved next week, targets industry, utilities and regular Montanans with a number of recommendations.

The final draft report says Montana should provide incentives to reduce electricity and natural-gas consumption by 50 percent in new buildings by 2020.

It also targets automobiles with recommendations for new requirements on low-rolling resistance tires, fuel-efficiency goals similar to those found in California, and incentives for cars with better fuel economy.  The committee also is looking at a recommendation that increases biodiesel production in Montana to 20 percent of all the diesel used in the state and increases in ethanol production.

The Department of Environmental Quality said it's possible the recommendations could be adjusted. The final report will go to Gov. Brian Schweitzer next month.

The governor's office said Schweitzer had not yet seen the draft report but that Schweitzer hopes to use it to reduce greenhouse gases while saving money, conserving energy and bolstering the state's economy.

The Climate Change Advisory Committee says that Montanans produce more greenhouse gases per capita than the national average, with the largest sources being electricity use, agriculture and transportation.

Some of the recommendations can be put in place right away by the governor, while others require new laws from the Legislature, the draft report says.

Utilities would be required to supply 20 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020 and 25 percent by 2025, according to the early copy of the report.

A spokeswoman for NorthWestern Energy, the state's largest utility, said NorthWestern is on its way toward meeting such a goal.

Claudia Rapkoch said the company is on pace to have 15 percent of its power come from renewable sources, like wind power, by 2015.

"This is a good start, but there is a lot of economic analysis that needs to take place," Rapkoch said of the committee's work. "What we need to know is, what is the economic impact for all of Montana?"

NorthWestern Energy wants to make sure that all utilities would have to abide by any new standard, she said.

"We think this document is a good discussion item, so that we as a state can craft energy policy that will not only protect our environment but will also keep energy affordable for our customers."

A state legislator who sits on the Climate Change Advisory Committee said panel members came from industry, environmental groups and other areas. Rep. Sue Dickenson, D-Great Falls, said she believes the recommendations are a middle-of-the-road approach.

"Some of the goals might be real modest from my viewpoint, but reaching consensus was how we operated," she said.

Dickenson said the document will be a starting point for new legislation, which could come from the governor's office.

"I hope he agrees with our recommendations and moves forward with various executive decisions that he can make," she said.

Dickenson said she expects to see the strongest resistance on recommendations that affect industry.

"I think they are good neighbors for the most part and will want to participate," she said. "In most cases, the cost does not outweigh the benefit."

"They also see climate change and what it is doing. They want to be helpful, too."

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