Flathead Valley group gets Capitol experience

HELENA — Student groups often swarm the state Capitol, and Wednesday one of those groups was made up of 25 juniors from high schools across the Flathead Valley.

“We come here every year as part of the Leaders of Tomorrow,” said Sherry Stevens, an adult leader for a program that has been around in the Flathead for 17 years.

The group toured the state Supreme Court, visited the Montana Department of Transportation building and arrived at the Capitol to check out committee hearings, followed by a tour led by Transportation Department Director Jim Lynch.

“It’s been really good experience,” Glacier High School student Chantal Gustine said.

“I think it’s been a really fulfilling experience,” Glacier student Shelby Ballard said.

Lynch led the group to the governor’s cabinet meeting room and gave them a talk about the legislative process.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer stepped into the room with some props reflecting his interest in resource development: a bar of copper, palladium ore from the Stillwater Mine, a vial of biodiesel fuel, a sample of Bakken oil shale and a sample of coal.

He talked about the importance of all of those resources in terms of meeting energy demands, providing jobs, fueling the economy and generating revenue for the state. The students peppered him with questions, some of which prompted Schweitzer to explain the importance of coal despite its pollution downsides.

Coal, he said, provides more than 50 percent of the nation’s electricity and that is not likely to change in the near future, particularly as demand for electricity is expected to increase.

“How can you increase the demand for electricity while decreasing your main source of electricity?” he said.

Montana has enormous coal reserves, so much that the state is “the Saudi Arabia of coal,” said Schweitzer, touting the state’s recent deal to lease its Otter Creek coal tracts in Eastern Montana.

Once operational, he said, the lease is expected to generate $5 billion for the state over a 30-year period.

“It’s the biggest deal the state of Montana has ever made,” he said.

“What’s the part you like best about being governor?” Abretia Crandell asked.

“The part I like best is when I’m not in the Capitol,” Schweitzer said — visiting Montana communities.

Amber McDaniel asked the governor what is being done about the toxic waters that have been filling the Berkeley Pit in Butte.

Schweitzer explained how water is being pumped from the pit to prevent it from rising further, and it is being processed in a way that separates copper, allowing wastewater to be safely discharged, and the miner who is doing it is now making money on the operation.

“Good question,” he said with a nod to McDaniel.

“My family is from Butte so I like to keep up on these things,” McDaniel said afterward. “This is the first time I’ve ever been to the Capitol.”

The group also had lunch with most of the Flathead legislative delegation, watched floor debates and then took a tour of Carroll College.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.