Though not endorsed by the Sierra Club, James E. Risch has shown a commitment to some energy and wilderness issues. Risch designed a plan to manage Idaho's designated Roadless Areas that won unanimous approval by the US Department of Agriculture.

Risch also supervised the adoption of an Idaho rule which effectively prohibited the construction of traditional mercury-releasing pulverized coal power plants. Both of these measures earned Risch bipartisan acclaim for his pragmatic approach to natural resource issues and land management. However, he has voiced support for "clean coal" technology, oil drilling and nuclear power.