Montana House rejects Colstrip bill 1 day after it passed easily

The “Save Colstrip” bill that could have required the state to add an increased share of Colstrip power plant debt to the rates of NorthWestern Energy customers was voted down Tuesday, though its contents could live on in another bill before the session ends.

Lawmakers rejected Senate Bill 331 on a 37-60 vote, almost completely reversing their support for the bill after second reading a day earlier. The contents of the bill could be added to one of two pieces of broadly titled energy legislation that are still alive.

Senate Bill 331, by Sen. Tom Richmond, R-Billings, requires state utility regulators to add an additional share of Colstrip power plant debt to the rates of energy customers, should NorthWestern increase its stake.

The largest monopoly utility in Montana, NorthWestern may increase its share in Colstrip power plant through a cheap purchase from one of the coal-fired plant’s other owners. Four Pacific Northwest utilities with interest in the power plant face future bans on coal power in Oregon and Washington, where climate change is a concern and the amount of electricity provided by natural gas, wind and solar is increasing.

Read more: https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/montana-house-rejects-colstrip-bill-day-after-it-passed-easily/article_e184278c-1dee-5693-b35a-12dc4da41a91.html