Biden-Harris energy policies threaten Montana

Few decisions made in Washington D.C. impact Montanans more than those made about our nation’s natural resources. Unfortunately, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ pursuit of radical environmentalism and a liberal climate change agenda is shutting down our state’s energy and mining and threatening our Montana way of life. 

When it comes to mining, look no further than the 700 hard working miners laid off from Montana’s own Stillwater Mine near Columbus this fall. 

Stillwater is a great employer for our state. The mine provides high-paying jobs with generous benefits. It’s part of the fabric of the community. The palladium and platinum it produces are critical for cars and electronics, including catalytic converters that help reduce pollution from tailpipe exhaust. 

Even more importantly, there are very few places in the world that produce these critical minerals. Being able to mine them in Montana is a point of pride for our state and plays an important role in our national security. 

However, instead of prioritizing natural resources produced here in Montana, or elsewhere in the U.S., the Biden-Harris administration allowed Russian President Vladimir Putin to flood the market with these critical minerals and the economic consequences were devastating. Palladium prices cratered and Stillwater had to lay off hundreds of workers. 

This “leave it in the ground” philosophy puts Montana miners last and Montanans know why: Biden and Harris will do whatever it takes to appease the far-left radicals in their party. 

This philosophy explains the administration’s war on coal as well. Since taking office, the Biden-Harris administration refused to issue permits for Montana’s three major coal mines, leaving one at risk of imminent closure and threatening hundreds of high-paying jobs. 

To make matters worse, the administration wants to prohibit any new coal mining in Montana’s Powder River Basin, the nation’s largest coal reserve. 

Finally, this spring, the administration issued new, costly, unrealistic regulations on coal-fired power plants, including Montana’s own Colstrip. 

When it issued its new mandates, the administration was hardly subtle about its intentions, throwing around phrases like “phase out fossil fuels,” “environmental justice” and “confronting the climate crisis.” 

Unfortunately, its regulations would force Colstrip to close, which will kill Montana jobs, increase energy prices and jeopardize the reliability of our electrical grid. 

Also, China’s increased use of coal over the last five years ensures the Biden-Harris policies will have virtually no effect on global temperatures. 

Perhaps most insulting for Montanans, when Biden and Harris’ EPA administrator, Michael Regan, was questioned by our own Congressman Ryan Zinke about the administration’s plans regarding Colstrip, Regan claimed that Colstrip was, “cheating the system.” 

This is a reprehensible lie and should offend every Montanan, but it tells us exactly how the Biden-Harris administration feels about hard working Montanans across our state. 

Montana is rich in natural resources, and we’re proud to help power our nation and produce critical minerals. This supports our economy, creates high-paying jobs and is part of our Montana way of life. It is also an important source of revenues for our local communities and counties including funding schools, roads, infrastructure, public safety and more.   

Montanans are worse off now than they were four years ago. We cannot afford another four years of the Biden-Harris administration with a Democrat Senate and Jon Tester backing them up. It is time for a change and it starts at the ballot box this November.

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, lives in Bozeman. He is chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.