In the Rockies today, a proposed transmission line between Montana and Alberta takes an important step forward.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Department of Energy released the final environmental impact study of the 203-mile Montana Alberta Tie Line, which will cross 130 miles and six counties in the state.
The study laid out a preferred alternative for the line's path, as well as several other options.
Also in the news, a lawsuit is filed seeking an injunction on the development of energy leases sold on Colorado's Roan Plateau, and Montana's lone congressman explains why he voted against the U.S. House's massive financial rescue bill.
And in our In-depth section, we provide a round-up of how Rocky Mountain State lawmakers voted on the House legislation.
Rockies today
Preferred route for Montana-Alberta transmission line laid out
On Monday, federal and state regulators released the preferred route, along with several other options, for the 203-mile Montana Alberta Tie Line, a high-voltage electricity transmission line that will connect power grids in Great Falls to Lethbridge.
Great Falls Tribune; Sept. 30
Lawsuit follows on the heels of Roan Plateau energy leases in Colo.
On Monday, the federal government issued $114 million in energy leases on Colorado's Roan Plateau, and two groups immediately filed a federal lawsuit requesting an injunction to keep the leases from being developed.
Denver Post; Sept. 30
Montana county, USFS at odds over when road review should happen
At a meeting called by Plum Creek Timber Co. on Monday, representatives from Missoula County and the U.S. Forest Service met to discuss changes made to road easements granted to Plum Creek Timber Co. that the Montana county officials said will allow large swaths of Plum Creek land to be developed.
Missoulian; Sept. 30
Wyoming lawmakers consider bill to allow leasing water for fisheries
The Wyoming Legislature's Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Interim Committee met Monday to discuss draft legislation that would allow private owners of water rights to lease those rights for up to 10 years to benefit trout populations.
Casper Star-Tribune; Sept. 30
Yellowstone Park workers get ready for winter season
Despite a federal court decision that effectively bans the use of snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park this winter, park managers and businesses that depend on winter tourism are preparing for business as usual, in the hope that a solution can be reached by Dec. 15, the date the park opens for winter travel.
Billings Gazette; Sept. 30
Democratic surge in Nevada puts state into play in presidential race
More Nevadans are registered as Democrats than Republicans this presidential election year, and with a faltering economy and an unpopular Republican governor, the state is shaping up to be a battleground between the presidential candidates.
Los Angeles Times; Sept. 30
Montana congressman votes 'no' on financial rescue plan
U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, Montana's sole congressman, voted against legislation designed to bailout the nation's financial industry because the bill lacked too few regulations to prevent another such collapse and too many protections for the people who led companies into financial collapse.
Missoulian; Sept. 30
Opinion
U.S. representatives listened to constituents on rescue plan
The power of the people was on display at yesterday's U.S. House of Representatives vote on the $700-billion plan to rescue the nation's financial industry, but the true failure of Congress was in lawmakers' inability to get the public to believe that the nation's economic fabric was at risk.
Arizona Republic; Sept. 30
Beyond the region
Washington state tells cities, towns to ban driveway car washes
City and town leaders across Washington state are resisting the call from the Department of Ecology to ban driveway car washes or take steps to ensure such water does not reach storm drains.
USA Today; Sept. 30
Extension of tax credit for renewable energy projects hits an impasse
A measure before the U.S. House would extend tax credits for renewable energy projects that are set to expire at year's end, but it's tied up with other, more contentious tax measures, putting the extension in doubt, and Montana Sen. Max Baucus asked House lawmakers to pass the Senate's version of the bill as he said the House's version will not make it through the Senate.
New York Times; Sept. 30
Solar-power technology companies take a breather
The head of the world's fourth-largest solar-power technology manufacturer said that the solar-power sector is operating in a bubble that will soon burst and take 80 percent of the 200 or so companies in the industry out, as technological advances edge solar power near grid parity -- making the price of electricity households get from solar panels as cheap as conventional electricity.
Edmonton Journal; Sept. 30
Federal court tosses USFWS Great Lakes wolf decision, too
Just days after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asked a federal judge in Montana to allow the federal agency to rescind its earlier decision to remove gray wolves in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming from the federal endangered species list, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., overturned the wildlife agency's decision to remove gray wolves in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin from the federal endangered species list.
Twin Falls Times-News (AP); Sept. 30
In depth
Financial rescue bill falls in the House; Stock market plummets 770 points
On Monday, House leaders were unable to rally support for the massive financial rescue plan and the bill failed on a 228-205 vote, and the stock market took the worst tumble it has taken since 1987.
New York Times; Sept. 30
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Utah congressman 'holds his nose,' votes for financial rescue plan
U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon was the only Utah congressman to vote for the $700 billion financial bailout legislation.
Salt Lake Tribune; Sept. 30
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N.M. congressmen find common ground in opposing finanical legislation
Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce and Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, who are vying for New Mexico's open U.S. Senate seat, don't agree on much, but on Monday they both voted against the $700-billion financial industry bailout bill, although their reasons for doing so differed.
Santa Fe New Mexican; Sept. 30
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How Colorado's congressional delegation voted on financial bailout plan
Colorado's Western Slope lawmakers, Western Slope’s two congressmen, Manassa Democrat John Salazar and Eldorado Springs Democrat Mark Udall, along with Reps. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Fort Morgan., and Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs voted against legislation to rescue the nation's financial industry, while Reps. Tom Tancredo, R-Littleton, Diana Degette, D-Denver, and Ed Perlmutter, D-Golden, supported the bill.
Grand Junction Sentinel; Sept. 30
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Wyoming's lone representative voted in favor of bailout bill
U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin, who is not seeking re-election to Wyoming's lone Congressional seat, voted in favor of federal legislation to pump hundreds of billions of dollars into the nation's financial industry.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); Sept. 30
Idaho Lt Gov. Risch: Flawed legislation better than inaction
Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, who is the Republican Party's nominee in the race for Idaho's open U.S. Senate seat, said he believed a criminal investigation into the nation's financial industry would be appropriate and that he would not be surprised if such a probe did not uncover some criminal activity.
Twin Falls Times-News; Sept. 30
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