Canada formally announces review of proposed Montana coal mine

Canada’s Cline Mining Corp. wants to develop an open-pit mine requiring roads, rock dumps, a coal washing plant, a power-line corridor, a mine camp and fuel storage.

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and others have expressed concern the mine would pollute water in the Flathead River system, which spans the British Columbia-Montana border. The Flathead’s North Fork forms the western boundary of Glacier Park, and Flathead water flows into Montana’s sprawling Flathead Lake. Critics of the mine say it threatens wildlife habitat, as well.

Read the article here: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/12/18/4731045-ap.html

Montana Reacts to Global Warming and need for Energy Efficiency

Recommendations of a special panel’s two-year effort to figure out ways to cut state energy consumption and thus do Montana’s part in reducing the emission of greenhouse gases were proudly unveiled by Gov. Brian Schweitzer last week.

The report discussed 54 specific ideas ranging from requiring utilities to include more renewable energy sources to increasing the production of crops that can be converted to biodiesel fuels. But the bottom line, at least for state government and the university system, was to cut energy use by 20 percent by 2010. The plan, said Schweitzer, is for the state to lead by example.

Read the article here: http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/11/25/opinions_top/a041125_01.txt