Pete Talbot over at 4&20 Blackbirds posted this PSA to bring our attention to a climate change survey from the Montana Environmental Quality Council. He didn’t comment on the merits of the proposals one way or another, but I can honestly say this is one of most horrific set of recommendations I have ever seen. The survey is an attempt by our bureaucratic overlords in Helena to pretend that they care one wit about what Montana’s citizens think of the recommendations in the final report of Governor Schwietzer’s Montana Climate Change Advisory Committee. Here is some of the “example legislation” that could come out of this fiasco:

Statewide building permit program with inspections and enforcement. This would expand the codes that are enforced inside city limits to include permit and enforcement outside of cities. Much of the residential building is occurring outside of code enforcing jurisdictions.

“Master Schwietzer, may I please build a shed on my ranch?”

Legislation to establish programs and provide resources to educate citizens, businesses, professionals and children on energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate change.

“Get those kids away from their parents, they don’t believe in climate change!”

Follow national efforts to establish a carbon tax and possibly join the national efforts in the future.

“Those folks driving pickup trucks are destroying our planet, THEY MUST PAY!”

Possible legislation on carbon markets including allowances and/or offsets, likely following a national effort.

“Let’s increase taxes so we can buy offsets, they won’t do anything but they’ll make us feel so much better.”

Require a technology/fuel neutral emissions level and provide DEQ authority to write rules requiring plans from industries as to how they will control CO2. Enable eminent domain for pipelines that would carry CO2.

“Mmmmm, eminent domain”

Adopt California standards for emissions from cars and light duty trucks with provision that when California adopts, Montana (together with 14 other states that have adopted the standards) will follow.

“When people complain about not being able to afford one of those fancy new cars that will pass California emissions standards, we can blame California!”

Set low rolling resistance tire standards and mandatory labeling for replacement tires sold in Montana with provisions that the standard be adopted by class of tire as the tires become available.

“Sorry son, those tires apply too much resistance to the road, you can pay the fine or move somewhere where you don’t need any traction.”

Expand multimodal transportation networks in and around cities and towns. This could require additional resources, or reallocation of funding from rural areas.

“Those rural hicks don’t vote for us anyway, so why in hell shouldn’t we take their money”

Adopt CO2 emissions standards for off road equipment if other states take the lead.

“Those damn four wheelers should just be banned, but we’re too spineless to do anything about it until some other state goes first.”

Require the evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions as part of an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment process.

“Let’s make another law that the lawyers and anti-development folks will love.”

If this is where we’re headed, I suppose I’ll need to start looking for somewhere else to live, but I’m not sure if there’s anywhere left to go. Maybe I just need to get used to the idea of the view from a 10×10 cell because of my unapproved fence, wide tires, and stinky pickup truck. Unfortunately, it will probably have one of those damn government mandated fluorescent lights in it, and I’ll just end up drinking the mercury out of it to get all of this over with.