OPINION:
Our nation’s energy sector supports more than 8.5 million jobs, contributes trillions to the U.S. economy and provides critical support to our nation’s national security. However, with the need for U.S. energy expected to grow nearly 50% in the next 25 years, it is crucial we do everything we can to meet this rise in demand and bolster Made-in-America energy. That is why I am a strong supporter of an all-of-the-above energy agenda. Montana is a prime example of what is possible on the national level as we work to harness all sources of energy.
Montana is rich in natural resources, from wind and hydro to coal and natural gas. For four years, however, President Joe Biden’s administration waged a relentless war on Montana’s energy industry.
Montana has more recoverable coal than any other state in the nation, but all our major coal mines were on the cusp of shutting down because of the Biden administration’s burdensome regulations and anti-energy policies. Thankfully, under President Donald Trump, those days are over. We worked together to save each of Montana’s coal mines. Most recently, it was my honor to stand next to President Trump at the White House on the 4th of July as he signed the Working Families Tax Cut into law, which included my provision to keep Montana’s Bull Mountains Mine open and saved nearly 400 jobs.
Last year, Congressional Republicans also overturned a harmful proposal from the Biden administration that would have banned future coal leasing in all of eastern Montana. President Biden’s Miles City Resource Management Plan would have blocked coal mining on two million acres of land, stifled job growth and caused the loss of nearly $4.3 billion in future revenue. I introduced a congressional resolution along with my Montana colleagues Sen. Tim Sheehy, Rep. Troy Downing and Rep. Ryan Zinke to overturn this catastrophic proposal, and President Trump signed it into law this past December.
Montana mining is back thanks to President Trump and his administration.
However, there’s always more work to be done. In addition to coal, nuclear and fossil fuels, hydropower is also an important source of baseload power for our nation. Hydropower is especially prevalent in Montana. A primary issue facing the hydropower industry is burdensome regulation as well as costly and lengthy licensing processes. My “Build More Hydro” bill would help extend hydropower licenses for projects licensed before 2020. By improving the licensing process, we can streamline projects and help ensure their timely completion.
Critical energy projects often get delayed because of outdated, bureaucratic systems. I’m also working with my colleagues on the bipartisan ePermit Act, which will modernize the federal permitting process. The ePermit Act will bring us into the 21st century by digitalizing the permitting process, allowing for swifter review and completion.
These permit and license reform bills are critical for energy projects, both in Montana and across the nation, and I’ll fight to get them across the finish line.
We’ve made a lot of progress in the past year to ensure American energy dominance. I am confident that under the leadership of President Trump, we are paving the way for a bright future in America a future that will create even more jobs and ensure our nation remains the global leader in energy production.
• A fifth-generation Montanan, Sen. Steve Daines serves as the senior U.S. Senator from Montana. He’s a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, as well as the committees on Finance, Foreign Relations, and Indian Affairs.
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