Scoring Congressional Candidates on Climate Change

Ed Berry, PhD, Theoretical Physics, CCM

The Montana Free Press asked Montana’s congressional candidates 11 questions. Question #5 is:

“To what extent do you see climate change as an urgent issue? What, if any, federal action would you support to mitigate its effects?”

Only one candidate, Republican Dr. Al Olszewski gets an “A” because he correctly and boldly answered, “Man-made climate change is a hoax.”

Two Republicans, Ryan Zinke and Matt Rosendale, get a “C” because they put energy sources on a level playing field, but they do not fight for climate truth.

Without climate truth, we waste time, talent, and money on the illusion that our CO2 causes dangerous climate change. We waste money capturing carbon dioxide when we need CO2 to grow food. We damage America’s economy, education, energy, national defense, national IQ, and child sanity.

Five Republicans, five Democrats, five Libertarians, and one Independent – plus MTGOP and NRP – get an “F” because they are pathetically climate-change illiterate.

(All they need to do to become climate-change literate is to read Climate Miracle. So, they have no excuse.)

They think human CO2 – which is only 5% of human plus natural CO2 emissions – is 30% of atmospheric CO2. They think human CO2 stays in the atmosphere longer than natural CO2. These illusions cannot happen because human and natural CO2 molecules are identical, so they must flow out of the atmosphere at the same rates.

Climate truth is the science of the people who will not be slaves.

Only one, or 5% of Montana’s congressional candidates has the intelligence and balls to state the truth about climate change.

To force the climate scam on America, the Communists achieved their goals #11, #15, #17, #18, #20, #21, and #39.

Here are the candidates answers to Question 5.

District 1 – Republicans

AL OLSZEWSKI: (A)

Man-made climate change is a hoax.

Montanans and Americans, not radical environmental groups which sue for profit, are the best stewards of our land and the environment. We will be well served by ending federal subsidies for hobby projects like wind and solar which often completely fail in extreme conditions and lead to rolling blackouts as we saw in 2021.

Mining Montana coal, building pipelines, expanding hydropower, adding nuclear to our energy portfolio, and responsibly extracting our vast natural resources will not cause climate change as alleged by extremists.

RYAN ZINKE: (C)

Conservation does not mean locking people out of public lands or stopping multiple use of the land. During my tenure as Secretary of the Interior we increased federal energy revenues (which benefits conservation of public lands) by promoting all energy sources, not just fossil fuels or renewables.

Under my leadership, we held the largest renewable energy sale in the history of this country with offshore wind and we expanded onshore wind and solar projects. At the same time, we produced record volume of oil and gas, reduced emissions and had the strongest safety year on record.

The government’s role should be to ensure a fair playing field for all forms of energy, not select winners and losers with regulations that drive up costs. Industry has proven it is more effective at innovating greener technology than the government is at piling on mandates.

MITCH HEUER: (f)

It is a concern. Continue with fossil fuels until we actually have better options. Your computer program limits my responses, thus not allowing me to elaborate. Please see my website for my responses.

MATT JETTE: (F)

Yes, climate change is a major issue and one of the most important for obvious reasons. With that, we have made some grave errors.

First, the issue must include a discussion on sustainability.

Second, we must acknowledge that everyone sees the issue, but some properly see that there does not exist the proper infrastructure, proper technologies in place, and the proper incentives to make substantive change.

We must begin this process by changing the way we think about the issue by addressing how we speak about the issue. We are not ready for a Green New Deal, not because many do not want it, but because we lack the infrastructure to do so.

We must first begin there and with those actors already involved in providing energy and sustainability.

District 1 – Democrats

CORA NEUMANN: (F)

In Montana, our two largest industries are agriculture and outdoor recreation. Both are being impacted by drought and wildfires.

From Congress, I’ll work to ensure our farmers and ranchers — crucial partners and stewards of our land and natural resources — have the support they need. I will also work to secure funding to our research centers and universities that are hubs of innovation in agriculture: from soil health to research on crop yields, livestock health, and more.

Montana has historically been and can continue to be an energy leader in this country. I support increased domestic energy production, and I want to make sure Montanans are getting the good jobs and wages that come from these national policies, especially in renewable energy. We have wind, hydro, and solar here, and I support investment in these projects.

Finally, I will work to ensure that we continue to protect our public lands and our tradition of successful land and wildlife management.

MONICA TRANEL: (F)

Montanans know that climate change is happening — we see it in the intensity of our forest fires and the drought harming our crops.

Congress has an enormous role to play in the energy transition and right now it is missing a rural voice who understands climate and energy. Montana can lead the way in the energy transition.

In the infrastructure bill, Congress invested in the new energy economy: by funding construction of EV charging stations; by allocating funds to protect against drought and heat; and by funding upgrades to our electric grid.

Montana needs a voice in Congress to connect those dollars with projects that will reduce carbon emissions. Montana can continue to be the engine room of the country, and supply clean, renewable energy.

TOM WINTER: (F)

Climate change is an existential threat — and climate action is a dire necessity. A rapidly changing climate threatens everything we love and we will lose it all if we do nothing. I will fight for climate justice and action — like a new Civilian Climate Corps. We can put Montanans to work mitigating the effects of climate change in our communities across the state.

We must end the corruption of our political system by the fossil fuel industry. My opponent Ryan Zinke grew his wealth from $2 million to $32 million during his “public service” largely due to Big Oil and Gas. ConocoPhillips paid him $460,000 last year alone. He’s on record telling Big Oil’s CEOs that our government should work for them. I couldn’t disagree more — our government should work for the people, not multinational corporations. And the people need clean air, clean water, stable growing seasons, and a livable planet. Without climate action there will be no Montana as we know it.

District 2 – Republicans

 MATT ROSENDALE: (C)

While it is critical that we work to promote a clean and healthy environment, developing our abundant natural resources like coal, oil, and natural gas and protecting our air and water resources are not mutually exclusive.

We already have rigorous processes in place to ensure the protection of our environment and right now, with millions of Americans struggling to put food on their tables and fuel in their cars.

I think our priority needs to be cutting government spending and reining in our out-of-control inflation.

KYLE AUSTIN: (F)

Climate change is an issue, as we see a huge population influx on this Earth, everyone needs to do their part to find a good balance.

As a farmer, we are seeing drier and drier conditions for raising crops or feeding livestock. At some point, Americans may see a struggle finding food to put on their table.

Do we raise the issue of world population control to reduce consumption, pollution and waste?

I believe our first federal action should be to back our farmers and ranchers to ensure they have the tools to fight climate change and be successful for the future to ensure we have a sustainable food supply chain.

jAMES BOYETTE: (F)

The “urgent” climate change issues that I believe should be addressed are the drought issues.

The oil crisis is not related to climate change, but rather the decisions made by the Biden administration. Regardless, we do need to work on developing alternative fuel and energy sources.

I believe that the government should provide access to funding and resources but stay out of the picture as much as possible.

By providing funding and resources to our rural communities, to farmers and ranchers, to create drought resiliency water resources. Then by providing the funding and resources to biofuel/ biodiesel innovators, we can support the research and production of alternative fuel resources.

GARY BUCHANAN: (F)

Climate change is already here and complicated. The U.S. should continue to rejoin and be a significant supporter of international climate organizations.

The Ukraine war has shown us that we are not prepared yet to move quickly to non-fossil fuels. We need to increase drilling in the U.S. to help. We cannot let Ukraine tanks and support vehicles run out of gas, nor the American consumer.

In Montana we need continued and expanded efforts from the feds and state to install charging stations.

We have to stop the world’s largest beef producer, JBS, from buying cattle in Brazil which come from illegally deforested lands.

Utilities like Northwestern Energy have to allow net metering efforts to alternative energy producers.

District 2 – libertarians

SAM RANKIN: (F)

It overshadows all issues. I support the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s requirement on publicly traded companies to disclose climate risks such as greenhouse gas emissions. Investors can make informed decisions and want it.

Some companies already publish the data. I support renovation of the 100,000 public schools in healthy ways for kids, saving money and the planet through HVAC, insulation, and lighting upgrades.

I also support modernizing by transitioning the 500,000 yellow school buses to electric power. I do not support heavy subsidization of citizens’ use of energy.

One way to get people to lower their energy usage, save money and the planet, is for them to do simple things themselves, such as fixing a drafty window. Let the market dictate energy prices. People will conserve on their own if they have to pay the actual costs.

I support part of the Build Back Better bill regarding the Civilian Climate Corps. It is similar to a program in the 1930s under the New Deal which trained and employed young people to improve public lands.

SAMUEL THOMAS: (F)

Climate change is the single greatest threat to humanity. We need drastic change right now. If we put more time and energy behind magnets and electricity, we would have strong electric cars by now. We need strong investments in solar programs, wind programs, hydropower and biofuel. Oil has always been a part of our lives and if we are going to get to a carbon neutral future, it should be the responsibility of the fossil fuel companies to make the switch from oil to electric because there will be a time in the future when we run out of oil.

District 2 – Democrats

PENNY RONNING: (F)

Climate change is an urgent issue. In Montana and throughout the country, farmers and ranchers have been at the forefront of responsible land stewardship and will continue in that role as we understand more about how to address climate change. I support more funding for public research and development for crops and cropping systems; for methods to maintain healthy soil conditions, develop crops, varieties, and animal breeds that perform in more extreme conditions; and to examine options to combat drought. I also support the United States becoming energy independent. Montana can help lead the way through the many opportunities we have for wind and solar power development, biofuels, clean coal technologies, and responsible oil and gas production.

SKYLAR WILLIAMS: (F)

As a member of the younger generation, we see climate change as an immediate issue. This one issue is a lot of the reason for the younger generation getting involved and running for office in the first place. I would look very hard into making the most out of renewable energy and forcing usage of plastics to drop down immensely. Climate change has always existed, but humans are altering it for the worse and we need to amend this quickly and stop putting it on the back burner as current and former lawmakers have for so long.