As Steve Bullock’s Political Priorities Shift, So Does His Coal Rhetoric
As Bullock’s political audience changes, so does his approach to coal.
June 18, 2019
As Steve Bullock transitions from Red State Governor to a candidate in the Democratic Presidential primary, his rhetoric towards coal has considerably shifted.
In a 2016 Gubernatorial campaign debate, Bullock highlighted Montana’s coal industry as an “important part of Montana,” making sure to note that “more coal was actually mined in the first three years of my administration than on average the past 30 on average, each time.”
In 2017, Bullock continued to tout coal by saying that it “is part of our energy future.” As he shifts his political focus to the presidential race and primary voters, Bullock’s tune on coal has also shifted.
In three separate events across Iowa in May and June, Bullock downplayed the role of coal in favor of highlighting the increase in solar and wind power generation for electricity production in Montana.
The presidential primary rhetoric differs from gubernatorial rhetoric and doesn’t note that Montana still produces nearly eight times as much electricity from coal as non-hydro renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar.
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