Just about everyone in this nation wants to see our country less dependent on foreign oil. Many of us try to drive less and find ways to cut our energy consumption. The Air Force is getting into the energy-saving business, tying it to national security. They seem to be picking on the weakest link.

I read in the Great Falls Tribune that the first public meeting will be held by the United States Air Force on January 30 in Great Falls about the development of a coal to liquids (CTL) fuel plant on Malmstrom AFB.

It appears to me that the messengers from the federal government, Col. Bob Griffin and Assistant Secretary William Anderson, are backing Malmstrom and Montana into a corner. They are actually saying your future is in a CTL plant, take it or leave it.

I blogged about this plan before HERE and HERE.

Currently Malmstrom is losing 50 missiles. The Air Force already cut the number of houses they are building at the base. They are losing personnel. The future looks dim for the base to stay active and engaged in our national security. Although some politicians talk of jobs being lost, the real issue must always be national security.

Malmstrom has always been a great location for the defense of our nation, whether it be the clear flying weather, low population for training flights, and support from the local citizens. Plus, Homeland Security operations would be a great fit for the base to protect our northern border and the Air Guard could use the base.

Unfortunately, the Department of Defense has not seen it that way. Griffin said in the Tribune story that, “So a potential flying mission at the base is not germane to discussions about putting a coal-to-liquid-fuel plant there.”

It’s not germane because nobody has the clout in our congressional delegation to tell the Air Force to make it germane.

The writing appears to be on the wall. Malmstrom and Montana are the weak link when it comes to military clout compared to the other two missile bases. Malmstrom missiles are being taken and all the base may have left is a CTL plant, which from what I understand is very risky and unproven.

Plus, and this is the last straw to me, they plan on using land that would prevent the runway from ever being used for any future military or civilian missions. If Malmstrom closes in the future, the city and county would be left with little if the runway is unusable. There are several newer hangars with office space, vast ramp space, a newer refueling operation, that would be wonderful for a civilian company or defense contractor to use. For example, Boeing used the facilities and runway at Glasgow AFB when it closed.

Unfortunately, it appears all would be lost for the CTL plant.

Another obstacle that the federal government will have to overcome is that many residents of Great Falls and Cascade County seem to be mostly against any plans for coal plants. At least the more vocal citizens are. They know all too well that Lewis and Clark made a journey through this area a couple hundred years ago, and they want the land around the Missouri river to look like it did when Lewis and Clark first visited. They understand that once the scenic beauty around the Missouri River is broken, it can never be repaired.

It will be interesting to watch this being played out over the next few years.