I have yet to interview Montana's Governor Brian Schweitzer, but from my research it's becoming increasingly apparent he assumes that...

1. 1. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates are unrealistic. The EPA reports that if coal-to-liquids technology replaced the dirty petroleum fuel sources, the effect on greenhouse gas emissions would be an increase of 4% even with the implementation of current carbon capture and storage methods. It would appear that the only advantage of coal to liquid technology is the security issue since we have lots of coal. Beyond that it is even more of a boondoggle than corn ethanol.
3. 2. The IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) coal plant would produce cheaper energy than the 4 cents/kWh that the Judith Gap Wind Farm already produces.
5. 3. Wind potential in Montana does not have the potential to produce enough electricity for the entire state 70 times over.
7. 4. Coal-fired power plants would employ a significant number of Montanans. When in fact the job-creating power of renewable energy is 3-5 times that of fossil fuels. (source: University of California Berkeley Meta-Study, 2004)

5. The capitol investment needed for such a Green Revolution would create a mighty big strain on our economy. "Rosie Revisited: A U.S-Led Solution to Global Warming" provides a blueprint for the United States' carbon dioxide emissions by revealing that by 2025, we can reduce those gases 80% below 1990 levels.