Somewhere between boots and saddles, briefcases and taxis…

Join us at the Montana Energy Users’ Summit

Say all the positive things you want about the climate change bill, but gasoline prices rising by 58 percent and electricity rates increasing by 90 percent after adjusting for inflation seem like two really difficult barriers to overcome.

If you are in the Montana area, you should check out the Montana Energy Users’ Summit on July 22. The Summit will address the myriad thoughts and concerns regarding the climate change bill. This Summit is hosted by the Montana Growth Network (MGN) and the Montana Chamber of Commerce. The event takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 22, 2009 at the MSU-B Ballroom and is free and open to the public. The Summit will feature presentations from energy producers and utilities, the transportation industry, agriculture producers, local and tribal government, and other businesses and consumers.

Lunch will be provided for those attendees and members of the press who register by Friday, July 17. For more information or to register for the summit, call MGN Executive Director Jason Priest at 406-446-1787.

And if you would like to read the latest about what agriculture groups here Washington, D.C. are saying about the climate change bill, click here.

Tags: American Clean Energy and Security Act, Montana Energy Users' Summit, Montana Growth Network

American Clean Energy and Security Act on the Horn Wrap next Tuesday

Can’t believe it has been over a week since I was at the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ midyear meeting. We had a great time in Ruidoso, and I received some helpful information and input regarding issues and projects that USCA needs to work on here in Washington D.C.
 
Several folks have been asking about the climate change bill passing the House. If you would like to see how your Representative voted, you can click here.  Folks have been asking about my thoughts on whether the Senate will pass this bill.  A few notable factors play into this equation…. First, each Senator is influenced by the constituents from the entire state–on average, that means a Senator has more stakeholders weighing in as compared to a Representative.  Also the Senate will be debating both health care reform and the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice appointee Sonia Sotomayor.  If the climate change bill advances from the Senate committee, it will face a log jam for time in the Senate floor. And that is probably not a bad thing! In any case, the Senate version of the climate change bill will be noticeably different from the House version. 
 
We’ll be talking about the climate change bill and other key pieces of legislation affecting U.S. ranchers and business owners on next week’s Horn Wrap Call:

July 21, 2009
7 am MDT
Phone number: 1-270-696-2525
Code: 032007#
 
And don’t forget that this free(!!) informational and interactive conference call takes place the first and third Tuesday of EVERY month.  Please feel free to join us on any call.  If you have questions or would like to place an item on the agenda, please email me.

Tags: American Clean Energy and Security Act, Jess Peterson, New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association

American Clean Energy and Security Act

Work continues on “H.R. 2454, The American Clean Energy and Security Act.”  The Energy and Commerce Committee began markup of the bill on Monday, May 18, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. and is hoping to vote on the bill before the Memorial Day recess.

This bill sets the stage for a host of increased costs and concerns for cattle producers.  H.R. 2454 is a comprehensive bill that caps carbon emissions.  The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association has monitored this legislation and continually advocated that agriculture be categorized as a solution to carbon sequestration.  H.R. 2454 in its current form falls short in categorizing agriculture as key resource for carbon sequestration.  This bill also brings about increased costs to agriculture operations. 

The debates have been quite entertaining.  If you get a chance, you should definitely check out the action on C-Span 3 or by clicking on the energy and commerce committee’s website. 

DTN’s Chris Clayton provided some good comments on the bill and proceedings.  Click here to read it.

Another cattle and meat perspective can be found at Meatingplace.com.

Tags: American Clean Energy and Security Act, H.R. 2454, Jess Peterson