A new study released today by the Montana Chamber shows how Senator Tester’s dangerous energy agenda would devastate Montana families. The study shows that closing the powerplant at Colstrip – a longtime goal of Senator Tester and his radical environmental allies — would result in:
- 3,300 fewer good-paying jobs in Montana
- $5.2 billion in lost income by Montana households
- $12.5 billion in reduced economic output for the state
- $80 million in lost state revenues per year
For full details, you can read the executive summary here and the full study here.
“Senator Tester’s radical environmental agenda would destroy jobs, raise energy bills and make life less affordable for Montana families,” said NRSC Spokesman Calvin Moore. “After voting to kill Montana’s coal industry and hike Montana’s power bills, it’s clear Senator Tester can’t be trusted to stand with Montana families over the fringe environmentalists who back his campaign.”
SENATOR TESTER’S DANGEROUS RECORD ON ENERGY:
Senator Tester voted in support of the “Clean Power Plan,” a draconian EPA mandate that would have essentially banned coal power plants like Colstrip. (S.J. Res 24, Roll Call Vote #306: Joint Resolution Passed 52-46, 11/17/15, Tester Voted Nay; CQ Summary, Accessed 6/19/17)
Senator Tester criticized the Trump Administration for rescinding the “Clean Power Plan.” “Pulling the plug on the Clean Power Plan doesn’t fully address the real challenges of Montana families” (“Trump’s repeal of Clean Power Plan gets mixed Montana reception,” Billings Gazette, 3/29/17)
Studies show Montana household energy and electric bills would increase an average $500 under the Clean Power Plan. (Energy Ventures Analysis, “Energy Market Impacts Of Recent Federal Regulations On The Electric Power Sector,” 11/14)
Tester voted in favor of cap-and-trade legislation. (Roll Call Vote #141: 6/2/08, Tester Voted Yea; Roll Call Vote #145: 6/6/08, Tester Voted Yea)
Tester voted against legislation to prevent the creation of a carbon tax. (Roll Call Vote #103, 3/26/15, Tester Voted Nay; Roll Call Vote #59, 3/22/13, Tester Voted Nay)
Tester criticized Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Accord. (KTVM, 6/15/17)
Tester has received $301,878 from the League of Conservation Voters and votes with their lobbyists 86% of the time. (League Of Conservation Voters, Accessed 3/1/18; Center For Responsive Politics, Accessed 5/22/18)