Daines Travels to Alaska for Senate Energy Field Hearing

Daines wrapped up his day at the Senate Energy and Natural Resource field hearing in Bethel. During the hearing, Daines noted the importance of securing American energy independence and emphasized the critical role innovation holds in America's energy future. He underscored the need for an all-of-the-above energy strategy to help create good paying jobs and protect rural Americans and Native Americans from rising energy prices.

"Montana's electricity rates are more affordable than many places in the country thanks to coal and hydropower, but when you have a sparse population, keeping prices low are challenging," Daines stated. "These challenges are felt the most on our Indian reservations which face some of the highest unemployment in our state. Montana's Indian Reservations have some of the richest coal, oil, and gas reserves in the lower 48 states, vast wind potential, and hydropower capacity, and biomass. We have it all in Montana--we just need to innovate to make it happen. With over 50 percent unemployed on these reservations, energy development is not only a ticket to more affordable energy bills, but also good-paying jobs."

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