Jon Tester

That is somewhat distressing to me, and I know it is to you too.

Coal is going to be around for a while.

What are we going to do about it? Do you guys have a--do you have a plan for that to get them addressed?

A project that I started working on 12 years ago that was $100 million is--two of them. They were each $100 million projects. Now they're each $300 million projects.

Is it your opinion that work will be able to be used in the recertification project to help drive costs down?

It's not only time; it's liability, too, because during that 2-year period, the liability shifts to local cities, towns, counties.

I think we need to look at that because there are lots of people, not only in Montana, but around the country who are faced with the same challenge.

The fact is, if we don't get the levee certified, if they don't have the means to do it, and the flood insurance goes up, houses don't get sold--it further depresses an already depressed economy.

These are important projects, and they need to be finished. In order to be finished, we need to have the resources.

I do not think we are talking about that near enough as we go forth with nuclear power.

I feel the immediacy. I think you feel the immediacy. I just want to make sure we are getting results.

Is progress being made at an adequate rate that you are happy with?

Being from a coal State like Montana, how we capture carbon, whether we are making limestone out of it or putting it underground for storage, long-term storage is one way.

The DOE is flat-lining the budget for biomass and bio-refineries research and development as one of the two programs in the whole energy efficiency budget to not receive an increase.

A lot of our forests are red and dead. A lot of that material cannot be made into plywood or 2 by 4's or anything.

I think it is patently unfair to come in and say that this is your fault because we are buying generators across the pond.

I think you came into the Department of Energy with energy policy that was antiquated and lacked diversity.

I was one of those four Democratic Senators that had that press conference yesterday on generation of equipment that was built outside this country.

What is the major roadblock with achieving our independence with transportation fuels in a faster way?

I am curious to get your perspective as to whether you see this country ever becoming energy-independent.

The quicker we get it cleaned up, I think the better it is for the whole country.

Montana also has some other big challenges. I think we have 11 Superfund sites on the national priorities list.

And I would just say that the CARD Clinic up in Libby is doing a great job and if EPA utilizes them to the best of their ability, they can be a great asset for you in that community because they are on the ground.

We need to have the best or the newest techniques.

I appreciate you bringing forth the limestone example.