Gov. Gianforte Urges Congress To Reverse Biden-Era Coal Rule

No action results in $4 billion loss of future revenue for Montana public schools

HELENA, MT - Governor Greg Gianforte on July 22 urged Congress to support two Congressional joint resolutions that would reverse a Biden administration plan that threatens Montana’s coal industry and cost the state over $4 billion.

In a letter, Gov. Gianforte writes in support of Senate Joint Resolution 61 (S.J.Res.61) and House Joint Resolution 104 (H.J.Res.104) which would overturn the Biden-era Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) amendment to the Miles City Field Office Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA).

“The RMPA is the result of a four-year attack on traditional, made-in-America energy by the previous administration. Instead of supporting American energy sources, the Biden administration left no stone unturned in its attempt to weaponize government against fossil fuels, like coal,” Gov. Gianforte wrote. “This would have a drastic and direct impact on the availability of reliable energy production in Montana as well as the job security for hundreds of Montanans who are employed by our coal industry.”

The RMPA as amended would remove more than 338 million tons of federal coal in Montana from leasing consideration and would isolate all of Montana’s State trust land coal reserves, amounting to a loss of over $4 billion in future revenue to State trust land beneficiaries, which include K-12 public education in Montana.

Highlighting the plan’s impact on the future of Montana coal in the Powder River Basin and direct consequences for energy reliability and national energy security, the governor referenced the need to act to make energy more affordable and reliable.

“According to a recent report from the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, electricity demand in western states is projected to grow more than 20 percent in the next 10 years, double the rate of growth projected only three years ago,” Gov. Gianforte wrote. “President Trump and the administration recognize that new technological advancements, including the development of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, will require a drastic increase in energy production and baseload power to meet energy needs over the coming decades.”

In April, Gov. Gianforte joined President Donald J. Trump at the White House to celebrated executive orders signed by the president aimed at unleashing American energy and supporting Montana’s coal industry. One executive order directed the National Energy Dominance Council to designate coal as a mineral and requiring federal agencies to rescind any anti-coal policies to expand coal production to meet growing energy demands.

The governor continued in the letter, writing, “Utilizing the Congressional Review Act to overturn the RMPA is another step in restoring American energy dominance and allowing Montana to meet current and future energy needs.”

Senator Steve Daines, R-MT, introduced S.J.Res.61 and Congressman Troy Downing, R-MT-2, introduced H.J.Res.104 on July 10.

The governor’s letter may be viewed here.