Climate, energy discussed at forum

A discussion on energy changes and challenges was conducted at the Paradise Center last Sunday. The three guest speakers gave presentations, and answered questions, to a packed house. Several topics on current energy sources and future plans were explained at the nonpartisan forum, which was sponsored by the Sanders County Democrats.

Dr. Steve Running from the University of Montana has focused his career on creating ways to better understand the impacts of climate change and current energy needs and issues. His presentation was focused on carbon dioxide emissions and its effect on climate.

Running started with a graph showing how carbon dioxide levels have risen by 46% since pre-industrial times. Starting in 1958 to 1965, there began to be a clearer understanding of what has been going on, Running said. In the late 1800s principal effects of change were noticed. Scientists recognized the start of molecule trapped radiation in the 1880s. Running demonstrated how the earth's total heat content has drastically risen from 1950 to 2000 with 90% going into the ocean. Running explained that this is equal to "billions of atomic bombs going off."

Historical trends in Montana show annual precipitation variables. According to Running it is a graph of actual station records from airports, not from computers. Running said hard data gives a more accurate telling of what is actually happening in our region. These readings report that temperatures are warming up. A graph of calculus extremes indicated a shift in the distribution of temperatures. There is a much larger relative effect demonstrated by a bell shape. The shift previously was indicated by temperature increases as 1 in 40 variables. Recently that bell shape shows a 1 in 6 yearly event of increased temperatures. Running further explained that scientists are unable to look at historical events for the reasons of these extreme high temperatures. Montana trends show an average increase between 1950 and 2015. Precipitation averages have decreased. Running showed how the air mass travels around the globe and can take 14 days to reach our region. He used the example of Mount St. Helens. When it erupted the ash flow traveled to Montana and then came back again two weeks later.

Ironically, Running said, the regions that are wetter will increase in temperatures and become wetter with an average temperature of 90%, whereas drier climates will become hotter, average 125% and have less moisture. This is because the wetter climates will create more moisture in the air and the dry regions will not have moisture to create more precipitation.

Running concluded with the ecosystems' responses to changing land water balance. The disturbances in the balance will become more important, he said. How people use the water, i.e. recreation, agriculture, industry and energy, will affect the balance. Eighty nine percent comes from fossil fuel emissions, or CO2 being used. Eleven percent comes from forestation. Carbon dioxide affects forest and grasslands. Twenty six percent of this carbon dioxide dissolves in the oceans creating fizzy soda pop gasses that harm the growth of shellfish.

Running said it is a high priority to quit burning coal and decrease the amount of carbon dioxide emissions. Oil is second and natural gas is third in emissions. Running ended with a photo of the Bitterroot Mountains taken March 4, 2007. The North slope had no snow.

Brian Lipscomb, president and CEO of Energy Keepers, presented further information explaining the regional situation of climate change and energy use. His tribal, regional and national leadership experiences help agencies plan for the future of energy sustainability. Lipscomb has given guidance for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes' ownership and operation of the first tribal hydroelectric dam. Lipscomb will continue to aid in the future plans for solar and wind energy with the tribal council.

Lipscomb explained that the last nine years have been the warmest on record. The 2022 global temperatures are steadily rising. He said the El Nino winters and La Nina cycles have indicated temperature changes. The warmer atmosphere in the arctic drives cold air down. In 2016, a polar vortex caused one of the coldest winters in the Mission Valley. While El Nino has hotter or colder, more extreme temperatures, La Nina causes wetter situations.

The increase in climate changes cause changes to the demands for electricity. Lipscomb said that electrical heating and cooling needs may change. "It is easier to keep warm in the winter. Many use firewood at no cost. It's harder to keep cool in the summer. Price caps put pressure on energy companies. There is an obligation to help the world meet their energy needs," he said. His strategy is to move the power needs away from carbon dioxide-causing energy supplies.

Lipscomb said the good news is that Montana, along with the northwest region, uses 60% of renewable resources. Mission Valley Power uses 99.99% renewable resources for electricity. "Hydroelectric drives the west," he said.

Lipscomb concluded that we may, someday "use excess water to turn into hydrogen and store it for the future."

The last speaker at the forum was congressional candidate Monica Tranel. She said her goal is to move forward with renewable energy options and address energy challenges.

Tranel's opening statement was the fact that Butte, Montana, was first, in front of Paris and New York, to have electricity in the home. Montana has investor owned utilities as well as co-ops. Tranel pointed out the difference between the two. Northwestern Energy is owned by two companies, Carlyle Capital and Black Rock. An example of a member owned co-op is Northern Lights.

One of the biggest challenges for upgrading to renewable energy sources is the transmission and distribution of grid lines, Tranel said. The energy opportunities in Montana are wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal and Biomes. Geothermals have low amounts of carbon and sulfur dioxide emissions, thus emit 97% less acid rain. Biomes produce the natural gas that has become an alternative to coal.

Tranel said that the extraction of coal brings in money for schools. "How can we replace that money?" she asked. The challenge is to make other options more obtainable and replace the fossil fuel money with other renewable energy resources. NorthWestern Energy still gets paid when coal mining is shut down. The customers pay the cost to NorthWestern, Tranel concluded.

The panel answered questions provided by the audience. One asked if wood burning was considered to be a renewable resource. Running answered that burning wood is a natural part of the carbon cycle and transition for forests in western Montana. Lipscomb believes that burning wood helps remove fuel for forest fires. Catalytic converters in wood stoves help with air quality. The Biomes energy is not wasted. Growing new trees help to capture CO2, Running added.

Running addressed a question regarding the U.S. ranking globally on per capita of used resources. "The global carbon project states that overall, China has overtaken every other country in its emissions control," he said. " The U.S., per capita, has the highest emissions of CO2."

Lipscomb answered a question about whether the area is headed to a more snow dominated or rain dominated environment. "The hydro system works with snowpack," he said. " Rain does not provide the lake with water. Runoff from the snowpack does." This affects the water levels of Flathead Lake. The water can be stored in the spring in hydro facilities and used for heat in the winter. With climate change the flood control would shift to winter if the majority of water comes from rain instead of snow. Demands would shift to summer instead of winter, including flood control, he noted.

Tranel concluded the forum by stating, "We can find the answers to the problems. Scientists are working on solutions."