As a fifth-generation Montanan, I know the importance our state’s natural resources to our way of life. Natural Resources are an engine to our economy and to job creation. Our pristine glacial peaks and rivers, vibrant forests, wide-open spaces, and rich mineral and energy deposits earn beautiful Montana its name—the Treasure State.
As a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I will continue to work to preserve Montana’s way of life by encouraging responsible environmental stewardship as we continue to develop our natural resources.
In addition, I support an all-of-the-above approach to securing not just American energy independence, but American energy dominance. That includes alternative sources of energy—hydropower, wind, biomass, and solar—along with coal, oil, and natural gas. Montana will continue to lead the way through promoting exploration and sustained development of the Bakken oil shale, continuing to lead in domestic coal production, and expanding our renewable energy production. Montana is setting an example of how domestic energy development can be done in a responsible manner to reduce our dependence on foreign energy while sustaining our resources for generations to come.
OP-ED: Canary in a coal mine
Over the past two years, Montanans watched the President’s attack on oil, coal and natural gas bring our nation to the brink of an all-out energy emergency. Gas prices rose to more than $5 a gallon and many Montanans are worried about how to heat their homes without breaking the bank. We aren’t the only country grappling with the effects of a leader who is unrealistic about our nation’s domestic energy needs. Over the course of the last decade, Europe tirelessly pursued a green agenda with the goal of being “climate-neutral” with “net-zero greenhouse gas emissions” by 2050. The results
Daines, Zinke, Rosendale Urge Biden Admin to Appeal Anti-American Energy Ruling
(U.S. Congress) — Today U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Congressmen Ryan Zinke and Matt Rosendale sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland urging her to appeal the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ recent ruling that undermines Made-in-Montana energy and Montana jobs. “On February 10, 2023, the Montana District Court ruled against a long-standing Environmental Assessment which authorized Signal Peak Energy to mine federal, leased coal at the Bull Mountains Mine near Roundup, MT. If this ruling is not appealed and ultimately reversed, it will jeopardize high-paying local jobs, lead to economic harm in Montana and lost federal royalties, as well as further
Daines Talks Twitter Censorship as well as Biden and Senate Democrats’ Woke Energy Policies on Fox Business’ Varney & Co
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Steve Daines appeared on Fox Business’ Varney & Co today to talk about being censored on Twitter and react to President Biden’s comments on energy policy at the State of the Union Address last night. Daines on Twitter Censorship “We were notified, without out any prior warning that we’re going to have our Twitter account shut down and censored Monday night about 11 p.m. By the way, I put that picture up on my profile back in early January and without any warning, we were shut down on Monday night. In fact, the message we got and I’m reading it from the Twitter policy
Daines renews push for reversal of Cottonwood decision
Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle Montana’s Republican U.S. senator is leading a bipartisan effort to compel the Biden administration to reverse precedent set in a 2015 federal court decision over critical habitat for Canada lynx. A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, on Tuesday sent a letter to the Biden administration asking for a full and permanent reversal to requirements established in the 2015 Cottonwood decision. Daines is calling for the change about a month after the 117th Congress ended its session without passing a bill to reverse the court case’s precedent. The legislation passed out of the
Daines Protects Critical American Energy Reserves
Legislation Would Prohibit Biden Administration from Further Draining Strategic Petroleum Reserve U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines helped introduce a bill to prohibit the Biden administration from further draining the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) for reasons other than a severe energy supply interruption until the administration releases a plan to increase oil and gas production on federal lands and waters. “Since Day One, Biden and the Democrats have been determined to shut down Made in Montana and Made in America energy – from cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline, to tacking a $25 billion tax on American-made energy, to draining the strategic petroleum reserve,” Daines said. “Enough is enough. My
Daines Statement on Northwestern Announcement on Colstrip Power Plants
U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement applauding Northwestern Energy’s announcement that it will acquire Avista’s share inColstrip’s units 3 and 4 which will help support Montana energy jobs. “The Colstrip power plant supports reliable, high-paying jobs while also contributing to Montana’s all-of-the-above energy portfolio,” Daines said.“This is great news for made in Montana energy, Montana jobs, American energy dominance and our national security.” Daines shared a video highlighting the important work Colstrip does to power Montana in honor of the announcement. Daines has been a strong supporter of Colstrip and Montana energy production. To see more of his work, click HERE.
Daines eyes passage of forest collaboration bill
Source: Daily Inter Lake Montana Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines expects a piece of forest management legislation he worked on with California Democrat U.S. Sen. Dianne Fienstein will pass through Congress later this year. The Root and Stem Authorization Act codifies the authority of the secretaries of the Agriculture and Interior departments to conduct forest restoration projects alongside private landowners and companies – with the goal of facilitating more efficient forest management efforts. “This act is really going to promote this collaboration effort,” said Tim McEntire, the northwest region representative for the Montana Logging Association, which is based in Kalispell.
Daines, Risch: Biden Administration Report Admits Cancelling Keystone XL Pipeline Killed Thousands of Jobs, Cost Billions
U.S. SENATE – Senators Steve Daines (Mont.) and Jim Risch (Idaho) today issued the following statements in response to the Biden administration releasing a past-due report demanded by the two senators and required by law that had the administration give a detailed account of the effects of its decision to cancel construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. President Biden revoked the cross-border operation permit for the project the first day he took office. The report released by the U.S. Department of Energy states the Keystone XL pipeline would have created between 16,000 and 59,000 jobs and would have had a positive economic impact of between $3.16 and $9.6 billion. “The Biden administration finally owned up to what we have known
Daines Statement on Biden Admin’s Heavy-Handed WOTUS Rule
U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: “This is a step in the wrong direction from the Biden administration and it infringes on the rights of Montana farmers, ranchers and landowners,” Daines said. “This overreaching rule threatens Montana ag and natural resources and is unacceptable. I will continue to vigorously fight to protect Montanans from out-of-touch rules handed down from D.C. bureaucrats.” The EPA WOTUS rule defines which bodies of water are subject to federal jurisdiction under the 1970 Clean Water Act. The Obama administration rule was