November 11, 2010
Letters, Montana

Montanans misled by ‘green’ proponents

Bozeman Daily Chronicle, www.bozemandailychronicle.com 10 November 2010

Wind provides financial payoff to foreign investors, NWE shareholders, out-of-state contractors and politicians.

When environmentalists tout wind as a clean alternative to climate-changing fossil fuels, they are not talking about the Mountain States Transmission Intertie (MSTI). In fact we feel Montanans are being misled by the “green” nature of the line and “in-state benefits.

And Montanans when faced with the pain of change will do what’s right, but MSTI is not right:

* It perpetuates the use of coal and will do nothing to reduce CO2 emissions from coal strip.

* Montanans will pick up the tab for the infrastructure in higher rates.

* There are no contracts with intended markets for this energy.

* Transmitting energy hundreds of miles is inefficient and wasteful. Up to 30 percent can be lost en route.

* The draft EIS states jobs for Montanans will be minimal and temporary.

Opposition to MSTI is not coming just from those who worry about visual and wildlife impacts. Why shouldn’t residents in towns dependent on agriculture, tourism, recreation, ranching and real estate be concerned? Private land will be confiscated, wild and historic lands will be irrevocably harmed – on a false premise.

Wind is a viable form of alternative energy when used near the source and when not firmed by coal. It should also be affordable.

Multi-national energy interests are pushing proposals identical to MSTI across the nation and they are failing, as MSTI will. Investors, politicians, stakeholders and shareholders don’t count on citizens being informed about the environmental untruths and motives behind proposals like MSTI.

MSTI is not well thought out and is being proposed by a company that recently came out of bankruptcy. Why is MSTI important to NWE? It is an asset the company can sell to foreign investors.

Katherine Ord

Dillon


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/11/11/montanans-mislead-by-green-proponents/