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Ryan Zinke on Energy & Oil
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Increase coal, oil & gas mining access at National Monuments
In April 2017, Zinke began reviewing at least 27 national monuments to determine if any of the monuments could be reduced in size. These changes were welcomed by Republicans but condemned by Democrats and environmentalist groups such as the Natural
Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club.After The New York Times took Zinke's Interior Department to court, it won and got 25,000 documents, of which 4,500 pages were related to Zinke's multi-monument review, and which showed the administration set
out to increase coal, oil and gas mining access. The documents also showed that the Zinke administration's new map pretty much matched that previously promoted by longtime Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, whose plan claimed it "would resolve all known mineral
conflicts for SITLA [Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration] within the Bears Ears. The real [beneficiaries] are Utah schoolchildren and the people of San Juan County," a claim disputed as hypocritical by the Utah Din‚ Bik‚yah tribe.
Source: Wikipedia.com for Trump Cabinet biographies
, Dec 31, 2018
Public lands opened for private company energy development
As the director of the National Park Service, at NPS we were hopeful [about] Ryan Zinke [when he was first appointed as Secretary of Interior], but we were soon disappointed, then appalled, as his doors were soon darkened by oil executives and climate
deniers. Under Zinke, policies that planned for climate change's impacts on national parks were rescinded, and leasing of public lands for development was accelerated (despite a glut of oil). Millions of acres that were available for outdoor recreation
will now be held by private companies for fossil fuel development. Many distinguished career public servants will be gone and many mid-level employees will be reconsidering their career choices.
Regulations that protect our air, water and wildlife will be weakened and need rebuilding. And our options for addressing climate change will have been narrowed.
Source: NPS Director in The Guardian on 2018 Trump Cabinet
, Dec 16, 2018
Climate is changing; Man is an influence but what can we do?
Asked by Bernie Sanders whether he thought climate change was a hoax, Zinke said, "Climate is changing. Man is an influence. I think where there's debate on it is what that influence is and what can we do about. As the [head of] the Department of the
Interior, I will inherit, if confirmed, the US Geological Survey. We have great scientists there. I'm not a climate science expert, but I can tell you I'm going to become a lot more familiar with it. And it will be based on objective science."
Source: Ballotpedia.org: 2017 Trump transition confirmation hearings
, Jan 18, 2017
Alternatives only if competitive prices without subsidies
Montana is the Treasure State and part of that treasure is the oil, gas and coal we have. The priority is to achieve North American energy independence in a manner that develops our natural resources responsibly by using accepted industry best practices
and leveraging emerging technology.Coal, oil, and gas are critical components of reaching energy independence and must be accelerated through increased domestic production and constructing the infrastructure necessary to produce, refine, and transport
energy. Renewable and alternative sources of energy, including hydro and biofuels, are also an important component of energy independence provided that they are cost effective and able to compete on the open market without subsidies.
Economic sustainability and job creation are critical to the continuation of energy independence in our country. A primary component of energy independence and economic development is building the Keystone XL pipeline.
Source: 2014 Montana House campaign website, RyanZinke.com
, Nov 4, 2014
Increased coal production with environmental safeguards
Zinke indicates support of the following principles regarding energy.- Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
- Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil, etc).
- Zinke
adds, "I support increased coal production for electrical generation and believe it can and should be done with adequate environmental safeguards. I believe the use of alternate energy sources and clean coal is preferred over petroleum based fuels."
Source: Montana Congressional 2008 Political Courage Test
, Nov 1, 2008
Supports Keystone XL, according to Faith2Action.
Zinke supports the F2A survey question on building Keystone XL
Faith2Action.org is "the nation's largest network of pro-family groups." They provide election resources for each state, including Voter Guides and Congressional Scorecards excerpted here.
The F2A survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Energy: Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?'
Source: Faith2Action Survey 14-F2A-Q18 on Jul 30, 2014
Opposes regulating CO2, according to Faith2Action.
Zinke opposes the F2A survey question on greenhouse gas regulation
Faith2Action.org is "the nation's largest network of pro-family groups." They provide election resources for each state, including Voter Guides and Congressional Scorecards excerpted here.
The F2A survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Environment: Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?'
Source: Faith2Action Survey 14-F2A-Q8 on Jul 30, 2014
Supports Keystone XL, according to PVS rating.
Zinke supports the PVS survey question on building Keystone XL
Project VoteSmart infers summary responses from campaign statements and news reports
The PVS survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Energy: Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?'
Source: Project VoteSmart Inferred Survey 14-PVS-q18 on Sep 30, 2014
Opposes regulating CO2, according to PVS rating.
Zinke opposes the PVS survey question on greenhouse gas regulation
Project VoteSmart infers summary responses from campaign statements and news reports
The PVS survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Environment: Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?'
Source: Project VoteSmart Inferred Survey 14-PVS-q8 on Sep 30, 2014
Drill for oil & gas in offshore OCS & Eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Zinke voted NAY Interior & Environment Agencies Appropriations
Congressional Summary: House amendment to H.R. 5538, the Interior & Environment Agencies Appropriations bill for FY 2017. This amendment would prohibit funds to be used to research, investigate, or study offshore drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
Heritage Foundation recommends voting NO: (7/13/2016): The Gulf of Mexico continues to be a very important asset for our energy future and it continues to produce significant amounts of oil and natural gas. Yet the Eastern Gulf of Mexico has not participated to this point despite its significant potential. A 2014 Heritage Foundation report said: "Excessive regulations and bureaucratic inefficiencies have stymied oil production and prevented the full effects of the energy boom." This amendment would block any potential progress that could take place by preventing the necessary work that would need to be prepared in the East Gulf for potential lease sales and eventual
production.
Sierra Club recommends voting YES: (1/12/1974): The Sierra Club believes that no offshore petroleum exploration should occur unless and until the following conditions are met:
- Strengthen the Coastal Zone Management System.
- Lease sales should be prohibited in areas that possess:
- High seismic activity
- Fragile or unstable geological structures
- Proximity to particularly diverse or productive marine ecosystems, or marine sanctuaries
- Where visual impact of offshore structures would significantly reduce aesthetic values
- Where the risks are unusually high.
- Petroleum exploration and production must be subject to automatic, heavy fines for all oil spills regardless of cause.
- The Sierra Club opposes leasing of lands beyond 200 meters depth until international agreements [define] ownership of sea floor resources.
Legislative outcome: Failed House 185 to 243 (no Senate vote).
Source: Supreme Court case 16-H5538B argued on Jul 13, 2016
Page last updated: Mar 11, 2019
