Environmental Protection Petition Delivered to Governor

Northern Plains Resource Council today delivered the names of 500 people who signed a petition seeking clean energy jobs and protection of environmental laws, during a rally of conservation groups outside the Capitol on Monday.

Petitioners urged Governor Brian Schweitzer to use his veto powers to kill bad bills coming out of the Legislature that would stifle creation of clean energy jobs, especially in wind energy, and roll back environmental protections that have protected Montana’s environment and citizen participation for 40 years.

“The governor needs to know that we support him in using his veto powers to stop bad bills from becoming law,” said Connie Keogh, Chair of the Northern Plains Clean Energy Task Force.

Despite bad roads and freezing temperatures, the “For the Love of Montana” rally attracted 600 people from across the state and was endorsed by 20 conservation groups. Montana musicians Greg Keeler and Stephanie Davis warmed up the crowd for a half dozen speakers as diverse as sportsman Jim Posewitz of Helena, architect Ed Gulick of Billings, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau.

“It was so powerful to see such a diversity of people at the rally,” said Keogh, an educator from Absarokee. “There were people of all ages and backgrounds who cared enough to come many miles to Helena and make their voices heard.”