'Save Colstrip' plan falls through on last day of Montana legislature [View all]

In the end, the 2019 Legislature’s major Colstrip plan was a stalled solution that couldn’t catch a ride.

Lawmakers ended the 87-day session Thursday afternoon with amendments drawn up to commit customers of NorthWestern Energy to covering debts associated with the utility’s potential purchase of Colstrip Power Plant generation and transmission lines.

Billed as a way to keep Colstrip Power Plant operating as the coal-fired generator’s other utility owners left, the proposal failed to pass both chambers of the Legislature. Afterward, Republican leaders lamented the loss.

“The Senate saw the merit of it and we pursued it. We did it in a transparent fashion. We heard from people that they had some concerns about the bill and we modified it on its way over to the House,” said Scott Sales, Senate president. “It’s a huge issue. I don’t think it’s going to go away. We need to pay attention to it and hopefully future generations, at least in the next legislature it will get the attention it deserves.”

Read more: https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/save-colstrip-plan-falls-through-on-last-day-of-montana/article_d44e457f-d7a6-517f-bc47-e4415354c6e3.html