The 2021 Montana Legislative Session is an important one, for the climate and more. We're so glad you're here!
Jump right in via our Action Alert (note: descriptions of each bill follows just below, click on the "+" sign).
And if you are new to this or need a refresher, scroll down for all the "How To's".
Jump right in via our Action Alert (note: descriptions of each bill follows just below, click on the "+" sign).
And if you are new to this or need a refresher, scroll down for all the "How To's".
ACTION ALERT - Week of April 12
We're well into the second half of the session and bills are moving quickly! Check back often for updates on bills that impact local climate action and how to speak up. Your voice matters--keep using it! Special thanks to our friends at MEIC -- their new Legislative Tracker makes engaging with this session easier than ever. Check it out here!
SB 379 - OPPOSE
This bill is a truly egregiously bad bill. SB 379 would force customers of NorthWestern Energy to pay more than $1 billion to keep Colstrip Unit 4 operating indefinitely, including a guaranteed profit for NWE, and would interfere with the PSC's ability to protect Montanans from rate increases related to increased NWE ownership and extended operation of the 35-year old coal-fired power plant. MEIC's Anne Hedges explains more about this bill in this short video. If we are serious about addressing climate change, we need a just transition away from coal asap and we need to protect vulnerable Montanans from regressive energy rate increases. You can track the bill here.
- TAKE ACTION: SB 379 is now in the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee awaiting a committee vote. Now is the perfect time to leave a comment or voicemail opposing the bill and get your friends and colleagues to join you. Please TAKE ACTION via MEIC's bill tracker tool today.
- Part of a business that uses electricity? PLEASE sign the Businesses Against Higher Energy bills petition.
- If you're an individual who doesn't want to pay higher energy bills (iow, all of us!), sign the petition sponsored by MEIC and Northern Plains HERE.
SB 257 - OPPOSE
SB 257 prevents local governments (i.e. Missoula) from enacting or adopting any ordinance or regulation that includes any fees, taxation, or penalties for the use of fossil fuel based energy consumption. This would directly affect our ability to achieve our 100% clean electricity goal, and would be a slap in the face of Montana communities wanting to do their part to act on climate. Track this bill here.
- TAKE ACTION: This bill now resides on the Governor's desk, making this our last chance to stop this vindictive piece of anti-climate legislation. Leave a message with Governor Gianforte asking that he veto SB 257 using the buttons below.
SB 260 - It's dead (we opposed)
Good news! SB 260, the radical takings bill, has been TABLED! Thank you to all who made comments, left voicemails or testified to defeat this disastrous piece of legislation. Another great example of what can happen when we make our collective voice heard.
HB 448 - OPPOSE
This bill that was once on track to give a big boost to the Montana solar industry and our climate and energy goals has been hijacked beyond recognition. BUT our friends are MREA are working to fix it. The best we can do is stay tuned and await to hear from MREA about next steps. You can track the bill here.
We're tracking bills related to clean energy and climate with help from Montana Renewable Energy Association (MREA), MEIC, MCV and others. It takes all of us! Note the list of tabled (likely dead) bills can be found at the bottom of the page.
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SB 147: ESTABLISH A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ASSESSED CAPITAL ENHANCEMENTS PROGRAM (C-PACE)
Sponsor: Senator Mary McNally (D - Billings)
This bill will establish a commercial property assessed capital enhancements program (C-PACE) in Montana that will be administered by local governments. C-PACE is a financing tool that allows property owners to secure all of the upfront costs of financing for energy efficiency, water conservation, and renewable energy upgrades for commercial property. The property owners then repay the upfront costs over a period of twenty years. For many business owners, it is challenging to afford all of the upfront costs to upgrade their buildings. A C-PACE program makes these efforts much less challenging and ensures that the costs are paid back. In fact, this type of financing has been used for private property that serves a public purpose (i.e., water and sewer systems, sidewalks, and street lighting). STATUS: This bill passed the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations committee, and is now bound for a final vote on the House Floor! Use the button below and contact your representative and ask them to support SB 147! Track the bill. |
HB 188: INCREASING REGISTRATION FEES ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Sponsor: Rep. Denley Loge (R-St. Regis)
HB 188 will drastically increase registration fees for electric vehicles. The bill would require electric vehicle owners to pay an annual registration fee of $150 for an electric vehicle weighing less than or equal to a ton, $250 for an electric vehicle more than a ton, and $500 for an electric vehicle with three or more axles. These fees are more than what our neighboring states pay annually for electric vehicle fees and would discourage Montanans from purchasing electric vehicles. STATUS: HB 188 is now in the Senate Finance and Claims committee. Use the buttons below to leave a comment or voicemail with the directly, letting them know you oppose this bill. Track the bill. HB 576: REPEAL MONTANA'S RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD
Sponsor: Rep. Jerry Schillinger (R-Circle). This bill would eliminate the Montana Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The 2005 RPS was intended to encourage the development of renewable energy resources across Montana in order to benefit agriculture, improve rural economic development opportunities, grow the tax base, and increase jobs. The RPS has been responsible renewable energy projects across the state. By eliminating the RPS, the legislature sends the industry a message that Montana is hostile to renewable energy development. STATUS: HB 576 is awaiting vote on the Senate Floor. Use the buttons below to contact your Senator and ask them to oppose this bill! Track the bill. HB 407: PREVENT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM INSTITUTING SUSTAINABLE FOOD PACKAGING
HB 407 by Rep. Mark Noland (R-Bigfork) would prohibit local governments from regulating any food packaging or containers, such as plastic or Styrofoam. The bill would prevent local government from taking any action, including a voter referendum, to regulate or tax “auxiliary containers.” This would prevent cities from taking actions to move toward more sustainable containers for food. STATUS: This bill is has passed both chambers and is now awaiting a signature from Governor Gianforte. Use MEIC's link below to send a message to the governor asking him to VETO this bill. Track the bill. Take action today via MEIC's bill tracker today. SB 257: Prohibiting local GOVERNMENT from ADDRESSING climate change
Sponsor: Sen. Jason Small (R-Busby)
SB 257 eliminates local governments (i.e. cities, towns, and counties) from enacting or adopting any ordinance or regulation that includes any fees, taxation, or penalties for the use of fossil fuel based energy consumption (carbon). This bill would prohibit them from addressing climate change at a local level, and in a way that is responsive to their constituents. THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY BILL FOR US. STATUS: SB 257 has passed both chambers and is awaiting a signature by Governor Gianforte. Leave a message with the governor asking him to veto this bill! Track the bill. Sb 201: Creating barriers to renewable energy
Sponsor: Senator Steve Fitzpatrick (R-Great Falls)
SB 201 is intended to make it easier for NorthWestern Energy to avoid having to purchase renewable electricity from solar, storage, and wind energy developers. Currently NorthWestern must consider the avoided cost it would have to pay for future regulation of carbon dioxide. This bill tries to prohibit consideration of these costs, thereby ignoring important benefits of clean energy when considering the costs of electricity going forward. This bill will hamper meeting our clean energy and climate goals. STATUS: SB 201 is now bound for a final vote on the House Floor. Ask your House Representative to oppose this bill by leaving a comment or voicemail using the buttons below. Track the bill. SB 237: Eliminate requirement that utilities purchase power from community renewable projects
Sponsor: Doug Kary (R-SD 22)
SB 237 will make community renewable projects toast. More info coming but simply let the committee know you oppose - more renewable energy is needed and NWE should stop standing in the way. STATUS: SB 237 bill is bound for a final vote on the Senate Floor. Use the buttons below to write a comment or leave a voicemail with your Senator and ask them to oppose SB 237! Track the bill. HB 475: weaken Montana's renewable energy standard
Sponsor: Rep. Derek Skees (R-Kalispell)
HB 475 would effectively eliminate the state’s renewable portfolio standard because it would allow all energy from existing hydroelectric dams to count towards the requirement that 15% of a utility’s electricity come from renewable energy. The purpose of the renewable energy standard was to create incentives for the development of new renewable energy resources. The law already allows utilities to count any additional energy that results from upgrades at these old dams to count toward their renewable energy obligations. STATUS: HB 475 is bound for a vote on the Senate Floor. Voice your opposition to this bill with your senator via voicemail or written comment using the buttons below. Track the bill SB 379: COlstrip's billion dollar bailout
This bill is truly a whopper. SB 379 would strongarm customers of NorthWestern Energy to pay more than $1 billion to keep Colstrip Unit 4 operating indefinitely, including a guaranteed profit for NWE, and would interfere with the PSC's ability to protect Montanans from rate increases related to increased NWE ownership and extended operation of the 35-year old coal-fired power plant. MEIC's Anne Hedges explains more about this bill in this short video. STATUS: This bill passed the Senate and is now in the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee. Now is the perfect time to leave a comment or voicemail opposing the bill. You can also register to testify against SB 379. Please TAKE ACTION to oppose this disastrous bill using MEIC's tool, linked below. Take Action via MEIC's bill tracker today. Track this bill. |
How to Participate and Advocate
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Three EASY ways to make your voice heard on a bill.
Register to testify virtually. You must register by NOON the day before the hearing.
Call the Capitol and request to leave messages for the committee members or an individual legislator. Leave a message Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (8 a.m. until adjournment on Saturdays).
Write to a committee or individual legislator via the online form. Not sure who your representative is? Look them up HERE.
Quick Links
Write a Letter to the Editor
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Here's how to advocate and keep up with the sessionMEIC hosts information sessions every Thursday at 5pm through April to make sure you are prepared to participate and know what' bills need our input. If you would like to participate in a session, please click this link on Thursday at 5pm. If you have any further questions, email MEIC's Conor Ploeger.
A recorded version of this training and a written guide from the Montana Free Press are also below. This guide - by Montana Free Press - is essential for this topsy-turvy COVID session. Everything you need to know to be an effective advocate for what you care about!
MT Free Press also has this amazing Capital Tracker - a calendar with links to all the hearings and updated daily! |
Connect with Our Partners
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These folks are paying attention every day, helping all of us stay up to date on the issues that matter to clean energy, climate and mores!
MREA plays a crucial role in keeping solar available and affordable. MEIC has been doing this for decades. Sign up for their e-alerts here. Their 2021 Legislature page and bill tracker are good to keep bookmarked to stay up to date on the issues that matter to clean energy! |
TABLED (LIKELY DEAD) BILLS
SB 260 - OPPOSE. This bill would have allowed a business or corporation the ability to sue Montana government if it believes it has been harmed by a regulation or permit denial. This bill could be enormously costly to the State budget, and make it more challenging to govern and protect clean air, water and achieve climate action.
SB 264 (Sen. Mary McNally, D-Billings) - SUPPORT. This bill would have allowed the Public Service Commission to adopt rules to require competitive bidding and the acquisition of least cost resources in order to protect consumers and guarantee fair competition whenever an electric utility wants to acquire more generation resources.
SB 197 (Sen. Janet Ellis, D-Helena) - SUPPORT. This bill would have made it easier for developers to build small-scale community renewable energy projects and sell the electricity to NorthWestern Energy. The bill would eliminate the requirement that developers of these small projects must live in Montana, something NorthWestern has used to avoid purchasing electricity from these community-based projects.
HB 314 (Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Billings) - OPPOSE. This bill would have required the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) to consider the lost tax revenue, jobs, and other economic impacts when considering the closure or sale of a coal-fired power plant (e.g. Colstrip). The bill entirely ignored the benefits to utility customers and the environment that would result from the closure or sale of a coal-fired power plant.
HB 245 (Rep. Larry Brewster, R-Billings) - OPPOSE. HB 245 would have made it easier for NorthWestern Energy to overcharge customers for expensive new gas plants. The bill increases the burden on the Public Service Commission (PSC) when it decides whether NWE can charge customers for electricity generating resources such as pricey new gas plants.
HB 99 (Rep. Denise Hayman, D-Bozeman) - SUPPORT. HB 99 would have eliminated utility pre-approval. Unlike most utilities, NorthWestern can request the PSC to approve its purchase of a generating resource and pass all of the costs and risks on to customers instead of allowing the shareholders to bear the initial risk.
SB 85 (Sen Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip) - OPPOSE. SB 85 would double or even quadruple the taxes on wind projects in Montana. This tax increase would make it less economically viable for wind developers to build projects here. The legislature should be making it easier for this renewable energy to flourish. On January 29th the bill was tabled in committee.
HB 17 (Rep. Hamilton) – SUPPORT. This bill would have allowed the Alternative Energy System Tax Credit to be fully refundable. Right now, Montanans with small tax liability are not able to claim the full $500 ($1,000/household) making an up front investment in renewables more challenging. Making the credit refundable would have allowed Montanans to claim the full amount, increasing access to solar and wind systems and helping more Montanans lock in long-term, affordable energy costs while stimulating local economies. The bill passed the Revenue Interim Committee in 2020 but has now been tabled.
HB 150 (Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell, D-Helena) - SUPPORT. HB 150 would have required large sources of greenhouse gases (i.e., coal-fired power plants and natural gas plants) to pay $10 per ton of GHG they emit and required the state to develop and implement a plan to reduce emissions below 2005 levels by 25% by 2035 and 50% by 2050. The revenue generated by HB 150 would have gone toward coal community transition, remediation of contaminated sites, economic development, infrastructure, tribal community assistance, and the state general fund.
HB 128 (Rep. Linda Reksten) - SUPPORT. HB 128 would have established a renewable energy trust fund using money from existing taxes on renewable energy. The trust fund would have been used to help fund programs that are losing funding due to the decline in coal tax trust fund revenues.
SB 264 (Sen. Mary McNally, D-Billings) - SUPPORT. This bill would have allowed the Public Service Commission to adopt rules to require competitive bidding and the acquisition of least cost resources in order to protect consumers and guarantee fair competition whenever an electric utility wants to acquire more generation resources.
SB 197 (Sen. Janet Ellis, D-Helena) - SUPPORT. This bill would have made it easier for developers to build small-scale community renewable energy projects and sell the electricity to NorthWestern Energy. The bill would eliminate the requirement that developers of these small projects must live in Montana, something NorthWestern has used to avoid purchasing electricity from these community-based projects.
HB 314 (Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Billings) - OPPOSE. This bill would have required the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) to consider the lost tax revenue, jobs, and other economic impacts when considering the closure or sale of a coal-fired power plant (e.g. Colstrip). The bill entirely ignored the benefits to utility customers and the environment that would result from the closure or sale of a coal-fired power plant.
HB 245 (Rep. Larry Brewster, R-Billings) - OPPOSE. HB 245 would have made it easier for NorthWestern Energy to overcharge customers for expensive new gas plants. The bill increases the burden on the Public Service Commission (PSC) when it decides whether NWE can charge customers for electricity generating resources such as pricey new gas plants.
HB 99 (Rep. Denise Hayman, D-Bozeman) - SUPPORT. HB 99 would have eliminated utility pre-approval. Unlike most utilities, NorthWestern can request the PSC to approve its purchase of a generating resource and pass all of the costs and risks on to customers instead of allowing the shareholders to bear the initial risk.
SB 85 (Sen Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip) - OPPOSE. SB 85 would double or even quadruple the taxes on wind projects in Montana. This tax increase would make it less economically viable for wind developers to build projects here. The legislature should be making it easier for this renewable energy to flourish. On January 29th the bill was tabled in committee.
HB 17 (Rep. Hamilton) – SUPPORT. This bill would have allowed the Alternative Energy System Tax Credit to be fully refundable. Right now, Montanans with small tax liability are not able to claim the full $500 ($1,000/household) making an up front investment in renewables more challenging. Making the credit refundable would have allowed Montanans to claim the full amount, increasing access to solar and wind systems and helping more Montanans lock in long-term, affordable energy costs while stimulating local economies. The bill passed the Revenue Interim Committee in 2020 but has now been tabled.
HB 150 (Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell, D-Helena) - SUPPORT. HB 150 would have required large sources of greenhouse gases (i.e., coal-fired power plants and natural gas plants) to pay $10 per ton of GHG they emit and required the state to develop and implement a plan to reduce emissions below 2005 levels by 25% by 2035 and 50% by 2050. The revenue generated by HB 150 would have gone toward coal community transition, remediation of contaminated sites, economic development, infrastructure, tribal community assistance, and the state general fund.
HB 128 (Rep. Linda Reksten) - SUPPORT. HB 128 would have established a renewable energy trust fund using money from existing taxes on renewable energy. The trust fund would have been used to help fund programs that are losing funding due to the decline in coal tax trust fund revenues.
Photo credit: Tim Spangler
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Testifying for a healthy climate, when it was safe to do so!
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Solar Jobs Rally in Helena when it was safe to gather! |
