"Three years into Gov. Brian Schweitzer's first term, Montana has heard plenty about coal development -- but a profound political shift is throwing serious coal plans here into limbo. The shift comes because of concerns over global-warming... Coal developers in Montana and across the nation expect Congress or the states or both to start regulating CO2 emissions. But with no clear political consensus on the form of regulation, energy developers are leery of where, or how, to invest their money. 'You have environmental sensitivity that has just gone nuts,' says Chuck Kerr of Great Northern Properties, the nation's largest private owner of coal deposits. 'The utilities are in what I call decision gridlock. Do you bet on traditional coal, or do you bet on (gasified coal-power production)?' Great Northern has been working for six years on a potential coal mine and energy plant near Nelson Creek, northwest of Circle. It hopes to apply for a mine permit this year. Nelson Creek is one of several coal-related projects mentioned for eastern Montana, which has billions of tons of untapped coal deposits. Yet none has come close to actually breaking ground or, in most cases, getting much past the talking stage."
Full Story: http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/01/06/top/a010106_03.txt
Coal Plants Stymied in Montana
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By Mike Dennison
Helena Independent Record, January 6, 2008.
Straight to the Source