Looking Towards Big Sky (Schweitzer)

[ruggerson]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0604210131apr21,1,479386.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

Democrats intrigued by Montana governor as he touts coal idea

By Sam Howe Verhovek
Tribune Newspapers: Los Angeles Times
Published April 21, 2006


BUTTE, Mont. -- Just about everywhere Gov. Brian Schweitzer goes in Montana--or elsewhere, for that matter--he brings along a dog, a black rock and a small vial of clear, nearly odorless fluid.

The dog is his 2-year-old border collie, Jag, a highly obedient, camera-friendly companion helping to fill out the relentlessly down-home image honed by the Democratic governor, who wears jeans, bolo ties and boots to most public events.

The rock is a lump of coal, of which there are roughly 120 billion tons sitting just beneath the lonesome plains of eastern Montana. And the fluid is a synthetic fuel derived from the coal.

Coals-to-fuel, says the governor, a soils scientist who lived in the Middle East for eight years in the 1980s, will be "the greatest boon to engineering and technology since NASA was created" in the late 1950s. With Montana coal, the United States could unleash itself from "the sheiks, the dictators, the rats and crooks around the world who are bent on destroying our way of life."

(more)

[Hippo_Tron]

1. This guy needs to be President

His background studying fuels in Saudi Arabia means that he has the experience to deal with what happens to be the greatest problem facing our nation right now. Also, there's the fact that he's a charismatic red state Governor with very high favorability and knows how to connect with rural voters in ways that other democrats don't.

[politicasista]

2. he better be prepared to go through the smear machine n/t

[dansolo]

5. He'll eat them alive

Brian Sweitzer is one of the few people that I think could absolutely destroy the Republicans, no matter what they tried against him. He is the true genuine article. He could appeal to Red-staters, but in a genuine way, not through the centrist pandering that dominates Democratic strategy nowadays.

[ruggerson]

6. That's my take on him too

From what I've seen, I think he's got cutthroat instincts and would clobber them. He's the real deal: progressive, populist, blunt, plain spoken and an authentic rancher, not a fake one like Bush.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. I bought shares of this company and will buy more when I can

since they are headed in the right direction concerning all of this IMHO.

www.RentechInc.com

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE THROUGH
CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS

Welcome to Rentech. Our company is one of the world's leading developers of Fischer-Tropsch coal-to-liquids and gas-to-liquids technologies. As such, it is the company's vision to develop technology and projects to transform underutilized hydrocarbon resources such as coal, petroleum coke, remote or stranded natural gas and biomass, into valuable alternative fuels and clean chemicals while providing clean energy solutions to accommodate our nations growing energy needs.


RENTECH, INC.
For Immediate Release
April 17, 2006
State of Mississippi Approves $15 Million Funding
for Rentech’s Proposed Adams-Natchez Clean Fuel Manufacturing Facility
Funding to Support the Development of Rentech’s Proposed
Clean Fuel Manufacturing Plant


Denver, Colorado - Rentech, Inc. (AMEX:RTK) today announced that the State of Mississippi
has enacted a $15 million state funding initiative, included in House Bill 1634, providing for site
improvements at the location of Rentech’s proposed 10,000 barrel per day clean fuel
manufacturing plant in Natchez, Mississippi. The funding is subject to Rentech meeting certain
financial, employment and other criteria. Rentech has proposed building a 10,000 barrel per day
clean fuel manufacturing plant in Adams County, Mississippi near Natchez.
“We are very grateful to Governor Haley Barbour, Lt. Governor Amy Tuck, Speaker of the
House Billy McCoy, the State of Mississippi, members of the Mississippi legislature, the


President and Board of Supervisors of Adams County, the Mayor and City of Natchez as well as
the ten county coalition for their support in the passage of a $15 million state funding initiative,”
said Hunt Ramsbottom, President and CEO of Rentech. “Since proposing the clean fuel
manufacturing plant six months ago, the public officials of Natchez-Adams County Economic
Development Authority, the Mississippi legislators, Governor Barbour, and the citizens of
Mississippi have recognized the important role that our proposed plant could play in providing a
clean, cost-effective alternative to the high energy costs they are currently facing. This funding
will be instrumental in moving the project to commercialization. It will provide funding to Adams
County to complete necessary civil improvement work at the Belwood site and an expansion of
the Adams County Port facility to support the project. By passing this funding initiative,
Mississippi has shown it recognizes the importance of national energy security and the need to
utilize local resources in a clean and responsible manner to reach our national goals of cutting
energy dependence on foreign oil."

[Hippo_Tron]

4. It may take some time...

But I have a feeling that your investment will pay off big time.