Energy

died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2987: Generally revise oil and natural gas laws

Bill LC 2987, titled "Generally revise oil and natural gas laws," aimed to update regulations governing the oil and natural gas industry. However, the bill was assigned a drafter in December 2024, placed on hold in January 2025, and ultimately died in the legislative process by May 27, 2025. No specific provisions or mechanisms were detailed in the context, as the bill never advanced beyond the drafting stage. Since it did not become law, it did not directly affect any industry or regulations. The legislative process for this bill concluded without any concrete policy changes.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill revises oil and natural gas laws, indicating support for fossil fuels over renewables, aligning with 'oppose' stance for energy transition.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 505: Generally revise zoning laws to prohibit the construction of wind generation facilities.

SB 505 would amend Montana's zoning laws to allow local governments to prohibit the construction of wind energy facilities by preventing utility companies from connecting power from these projects. Specifically, it targets subsection (28) of Section 7-1-111, which would permit local governments to block utility connections for wind generation facilities defined under state law. This bill directly affects wind energy developers and local planning authorities, as it removes a key barrier to project development. The policy change focuses on utility interconnection as the mechanism for restricting wind facility construction, rather than general zoning rules. The bill did not become law, as it died in committee in 2025.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBlocks utility connections for wind projects, directly restricting renewable energy development per bill's zoning amendments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Transmission Wind

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 630: Require legislative approval of greenhouse gas rules

HB 630 requires that certain rules established by state departments, commissions, boards, or local authorities are not effective unless approved by the legislature. Specifically, any rules related to the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions or the calculation and application of the social cost of carbon must receive legislative approval at the next legislative session. This mechanism affects agencies that issue such environmental regulations, including those pertaining to the operation of motor vehicles. The bill ensures that the legislature has final say over these specific types of administrative rules.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRequires legislative approval for greenhouse gas regulations, delaying or blocking environmental rules that advance clean energy standards and emissions reduction efforts.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRequires legislative approval for greenhouse gas rules, adding barriers to environmental regulation implementation and weakening agency authority on emissions standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 326: Establish a tax on electrical energy not produced by coal to match coal severance tax rate

HB 326, titled the "State Energy Resource Severance Act," would establish a new 10% tax on the sale price of electrical energy produced in the state. This tax would apply to electricity generated from sources such as water, wind, and solar, but specifically exempts coal-fired electrical generation. The bill also reduces the existing coal severance tax rate to match this new electrical energy production tax rate. Revenue from this new tax would be allocated to special accounts, primarily for local government infrastructure projects traditionally funded by coal.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new 10% tax on non-coal energy (wind/solar), reallocates revenue to local accounts for public services, strengthening tax base and fiscal management per bill's explicit tax structure.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill taxes renewable energy (wind/solar/hydro) at 10% while exempting coal and reducing coal's severance tax, directly favoring fossil fuels over renewables.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentTaxes renewable energy sources while exempting coal, disincentivizing clean energy adoption and favoring fossil fuels over environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Coal Solar

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 389: Provide for setbacks for wind turbine generators

HB 389, titled "Provide for setbacks for wind turbine generators," aimed to establish specific minimum distances for the construction of new wind turbine generators in Montana. The bill would have required wind turbines to be set back at least 1,250 feet from property lines with a wind energy agreement, 3,000 feet from public roads, and 7,920 feet from property lines without a wind energy agreement. This legislation would have directly affected wind energy developers and landowners by regulating the placement of new wind energy infrastructure.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill imposes strict physical restrictions (1,250-7,920 ft setbacks) on wind turbine placement, directly limiting renewable energy development infrastructure.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill imposes strict setbacks (up to 7,920 ft) for wind turbines, restricting renewable energy development and limiting clean energy expansion per environmental policy indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Wind

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 349: Declare authority over existing fossil-fuel fired electric generating units

SB 349 would have transferred authority over air and water quality regulations for existing fossil fuel power plants in Montana from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), making DEQ the sole permitting authority for these facilities. It claims federal EPA rules lack authority to restrict plant operations without requiring "significant economic investment" from plant owners and utilities. The bill includes a contingency that would void it if the EPA repeals two specific 2024 rules (89 Fed. Reg. 38508 and 39798). This bill died in committee in May 2025 and never became law.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill transfers EPA regulatory authority for fossil fuel plants to state, claiming federal rules require "significant economic investment". This weakens federal environmental oversight, favoring fossil fuel operations over clean energy transition.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill transfers EPA environmental authority to state DEQ, claiming federal rules require costly investments. This weakens federal oversight for fossil fuel plants, reducing regulatory burden and likely increasing pollution.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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passed both · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HJ 17: Resolution regarding energy

House Joint Resolution 17 is a resolution from the Montana Legislature urging the U.S. Congress and President to take actions to promote American energy production. It calls for reforming and streamlining federal permitting obligations and revising environmental regulations that are deemed not to align with national security interests. The resolution specifically recommends that the Environmental Protection Agency immediately review and potentially suspend, revise, or rescind certain power plant regulations issued in May 2024.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyCalls to reform permitting and environmental regulations to promote energy production, opposing regulatory barriers to fossil fuel development.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentCalls to suspend or revise EPA power plant regulations, weakening environmental protections to prioritize energy production.95% confidence

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HJ 12: Resolution regarding electric vehicles

HJ 12 is a Montana joint resolution requesting the U.S. Congress remove federal requirements for electric vehicle (EV) purchases. It cites Montana-specific challenges like limited rural charging infrastructure, reduced EV range in cold weather, and lack of all-terrain EV options, arguing these make EVs impractical for Montanans' needs. The resolution does not create new law but asks Congress to eliminate federal EV mandates, allowing Montanans to choose vehicle types freely. It was referred to a committee but died in 2025 without further action.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill requests removal of federal EV mandates, opposing federal energy policy promoting EV adoption and clean transportation infrastructure.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill seeks to eliminate federal EV mandates, weakening promotion of cleaner transportation - a key environmental protection measure. Removing such requirements opposes climate action goals.90% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationRequests removal of federal EV mandates, opposing federal regulation of vehicle choices in transportation policy, directly limiting transportation program requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles

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signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 333: Repeal sunset on coal washing credit

Senate Bill 333 repeals the termination date for the existing coal severance tax coal washing credit. This credit, previously set to expire on July 1, 2027, will now continue indefinitely. The bill directly affects coal mining companies and processors that utilize coal washing and are subject to the coal severance tax, allowing them to continue claiming this tax credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends coal severance tax credit indefinitely, providing ongoing tax relief to coal mining companies, directly supporting tax policy in Budget & Taxes.90% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExtends tax credit for coal washing, supporting fossil fuel industry over renewable energy transition per bill's focus on coal severance tax continuation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal