As Gas Prices Climb, Tester Leads Renewable Energy Push
Tester slams Burns for vote against renewable fuel
Big Sandy farmer and Montana Senate President Jon Tester today highlighted another difference between himself and Sen. Burns in the area of renewable energy. Tester’s plan would encourage renewable energy production in Montana while Burns has opposed it. Burns has taken over $490,000 in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry.
“Sen. Burns and his friends in the oil business are against renewable energy because it’s bad for the company bottom line and bad for Burns’ campaign accounts,” said Tester. “But I’ve been listening to Montana families and they’re sick and tired of buying $3 a gallon gas. Here we are in the middle of the summer when Montana families are taking vacations and farmers are getting ready for the harvest, and gas is just too expensive — all because government hasn’t done anything to look for alternatives. It is time for leadership in Washington.”
As crude oil prices climbed to $75/barrel this week, Montana gas prices have risen from an average $2.26 in July 2005 to $2.89 in July 2006, an increase of $.63 According to records, Sen. Burns has received over $490,000 from the oil and gas industry over the course of his career. [AAA Fuel Gauge Report, 7/5/06; S 150, 4/29/04, #73; Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 7/5/06]
Burns has been a good investment for the oil and gas companies that fund his campaigns. In April 2004, Burns voted against requiring that gasoline sold or introduced into the United States contain renewable fuel in specific amounts, beginning with 3.1 billion gallons in 2005 and increasing each year to 5 billion gallons in 2012. [S 150, 4/29/04, #73]
A leader in the fight for renewable energy, Tester introduced SB 415, the Montana renewable power production and rural economic development act. Tester’s plan would require public utilities by 2008 to buy at least 5 percent of their electricity from alternative resources like wind, solar, geothermal or hydroelectric projects. The minimum jumps to 10 percent in 2010 and 15 percent in 2015. Tester’s bill passed the Senate, 26-24, and became law. [Tester yea, SB 415, 3rd reading-do pass/amd, 4/19/05]
“My plan to increase renewable energy in Montana will generate an entirely new element of our economy and create good-paying jobs for Montanans, not Texas oil company executives,” said Tester.
Posted on Friday, July 7th, 2006 at 3:09 pm.
