The appointments to the Governor's 18-person Montana Climate Change Council were announced on April 25th, 2006. The Council’s job is to recommend ways to reduce global warming pollution, promote energy-efficient practices and technologies, and advocate for the development of clean and renewable energy sources. It will meet six times in the next year, with its final report due by June 30, 2007.

MEIC’s energy program director, Patrick Judge, has been appointed to the Council. In commenting on his appointment, he said: “I look forward to working with all the interests involved to make recommendations that can be implemented quickly and that will enhance the state’s lifestyle and economy. The experience throughout the world has proven that dealing with global warming pollution reduction is good for the economy.”

The other members of the Council are:

• William Walks Along, Northern Cheyenne tribal planner, Lame Deer
• Peggy Beltrone, Cascade County Commissioner, Great Falls
• Robert Boettcher, organic farmer, Big Sandy
• Mark Brandt, Teamsters union official, Great Falls
• Buck Buchanan, middle school teacher, Belgrade
• Rep. Sue Dickenson, Democrat, Great Falls
• Mary Fitzpatrick, Montana Conservation Voters, Billings
• Gloria Flora, former supervisor of the Lewis and Clark National Forest, Helena
• Tim Gregori, Southern Montana Electric Generation & Transmission Co-op, Billings
• Mark Lambrecht, Pennsylvania Power and Light—Montana, Helena
• Steve Loken, Center for Resourceful Building Technology, Missoula
• Charles Magraw, Natural Resources Defense Council, Helena
• Shane Morgensen, Nance Petroleum Corp., Billings
• Rep. Gary Perry, Republican, Manhattan
• Trudi Peterson, rancher, Judith Gap
• Bob Raney, Public Service Commissioner, Livingston
• Dave Ryan, National Center for Appropriate Technology, Butte