Biden taps Montana environmentalist for US public lands boss Follow Us
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By MATTHEW BROWN - Associated Press - Thursday, April 22, 2021
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - President Joe Biden has nominated a longtime environmental advocate and Democratic aide to oversee the vast expanses of federally owned land in Western states - the latest political appointment raising concerns among Republicans as Biden moves to curtail energy production from public reserves.
Tracy Stone-Manning of Missoula, Montana, was nominated on Thursday to direct the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management, which has jurisdiction over about a quarter-billion acres (100 million hectares) and one-third of the nation’s underground minerals, including huge reserves of oil, natural gas and coal. The agency regulates drilling, mining, grazing and other activities and is set to play a key role in
BILLINGS, Mont. President Joe Biden has nominated a longtime environmental advocate and Democratic aide to oversee the vast expanses of federally owned land in Western states the latest political appointment raising concerns among Republicans as Biden moves to curtail energy production from public reserves.
Biden nominates environmental advocate to run Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management Published 2 hours ago
In this Dec. 14, 2012, file photo, Tracy Stone-Manning, left, is named by Gov.-elect Steve Bullock to run the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, in Helena, Mont. Stone-Manning has been nominated by President Joe Biden to lead an agency that oversees about a quarter-billion acres of public lands in western states. (Matt Gouras / AP File)
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Print article BILLINGS, Mont. President Joe Biden has nominated a longtime environmental advocate and Democratic aide to oversee the vast expanses of federally owned land in Western states the latest political appointment raising concerns among Republicans as Biden moves to curtail energy production from public reserves.
Apr 23, 2021 4:38 PM EDT
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) President Joe Biden has nominated a longtime environmental advocate and Democratic aide to oversee the vast expanses of federally owned land in Western states the latest political appointment raising concerns among Republicans as Biden moves to curtail energy production from public reserves.
Tracy Stone-Manning of Missoula, Montana, was nominated late Thursday to direct the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management, which has jurisdiction over about a quarter-billion acres (100 million hectares) and one-third of the nation’s underground minerals, including huge reserves of oil, natural gas and coal. The agency regulates drilling, mining, grazing and other activities and is set to play a key role in Biden’s commitment announced Thursday to cut climate warming emissions from fossil fuels by half by 2030.
TOM LUTEY
Colstrip Power Plant operator and co-owner Talen Energy was one of 13 electricity companies who last week offered to work with President Joe Biden on a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions at power plants by 2030.
Talen and the other companies suggested they could cut carbon emissions to levels equal to 20% of what pollution levels were in 2005. Reuters news service, which was given to access to the letter, reported that companies said the 2030 benchmark aligned with Bidenâs 2050 goal for decarbonizing the economy.
Talen, in an email to Lee Montana Newspapers, said the carbon reduction plans havenât involved the southeast Montana power plant in which it operates and also holds a 15% share. The company announced a $2 billion investment in renewables last week as it pivots away from coal power in the 12-state PJM energy market, which includes Pennsylvania. Colstrip isnât among Talenâs planned retirements, said Talenâs Taryne Williams, t