Energy Efficiency

Passing energy efficiency legislation was one of MEIC’s top priorities in the 2009 session.  Implementing such measures is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy security, as well as creating jobs and saving consumers money.  Energy efficiency savings should be the first energy resource that Montana develops.

Several energy efficiency bills passed this session, and are important steps to improve the energy efficiency of State and local governments. But there were many important energy efficiency bills that failed on tie votes in committees, with  Republicans voting party-line against them.

Bills that passed

HB 27 (Rep. Brady Wiseman, D-Bozeman). This bill eliminates the sunset date for the Universal Systems Benefits (USB) program. The USB program provides funds for low-income weatherization and other energy conservation expenditures. The bill passed the House 63-37 and the Senate 36-13, and was signed by the Governor.

HB 646 (Rep. Wanda Grinde, D-Billings).  Although this bill failed, its provisions were incorporated into HB 645, the federal stimulus appropriations bill. It provides $15 million in “Quick Start Energy Grants” to public schools to fund energy audits and energy efficiency upgrades in their buildings. The bill passed the House 64-35 and the Senate 27-23, but the conflicting versions had to be reconciled by a free conference committee.  Both chambers accepted the conference committee report and the bill was signed by the Governor.

HB 420 (Rep. Michele Reinhart, D-Missoula).  This bill allows cities, counties, and towns to adopt incentive-based energy conservation standards that exceed the standards contained in the State building code. The bill passed the House 65-34 and the Senate 32-18 in slightly different versions, but the House accepted the Senate amendments and the bill was signed by the Governor.

HB 98  (D. Barrett, D-Missoula)  This bill allows State government (including universities) to enter into contracts with energy service companies, where the contractor is paid from the energy efficiency savings over time. The bill passed the House 71-27 and the Senate 41-9, and both chambers accepted the governor’s amendments.

SB 49  (Dave Wanzenreid, D-Missoula). This bill requires new State buildings, and renovations to those buildings, to exceed the current energy conservation building codes by 20% (or whatever amount is cost-effective). The bill easily passed both the House and Senate, and was signed by the Governor.

Bills that did not pass

HB 641 (Rep. Art Noonan, D-Butte).  This bill was one of the most important energy bills of the 2009 session. It would have required the state’s largest electric and natural gas utilities to achieve cost-effective energy efficiency by 2020. This bill would have distributed the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency across the state. It failed on a 7-7 vote in the House Federal Relations, Energy, and Telecommunications Committee.  (SEE FACT SHEET ON HB 641)

SB 37 (Sen. Christine Kauffman, D-Helena).  This bill would have encouraged homeowners to invest in energy efficiency by increasing the maximum energy efficiency tax credit to $800 (from $500) and providing for a refund of any unused credits. This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 29-21, but failed to pass out of the House Taxation Committee on a 10-10 vote.

HB 361 (Rep. Brady Wiseman, D-Bozeman). This bill would have given cities and towns the authority to create local energy improvement districts and make loans to property owners for the purposes of installing off-grid renewable energy systems and making energy efficiency improvements. After some amendments, the bill passed the House by a vote of 52-47, but was tabled in the Senate Local Government Committee.

OTHER BILLS THAT DIED

 
SB 144:  (Laible, R-Darby) Building standards for residences in wildland-urban interface.   MEIC position:  SUPPORT

• (S) Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee: Bill tabled in committee 1/14/09
• Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal    02/26/2009 

SB 301: Rep. Mike Cooney (D- Helena).  This bill would have increased the maximum tax credit to $1,250 (from $500) for homeowners making expenditures  on energy conservation and alternative energy.  MEIC position:  SUPPORT

• (S) Tabled in (S) Taxation Committee  3/05/2009; Missed Deadline for Revenue Bill Transmittal 3/31/09

HJ 13:  (Betsy Hands, D-Missoula)  This joint resolution supports the goals of the "2030 Challenge" and encourages the state to become carbon neutral by 2030.  MEIC position:  SUPPORT.

• (H) Federal Relations, Energy, and Telecommunications Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed 2/14/2009 (vote: 10-4)
• (H) 2nd Reading Passed  2/17/2009 (vote: 52-48); (H) 3rd Reading Failed  2/18/2009 (vote: 49-50)
• Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal    02/26/2009

HB 20:  (Dickenson, D-Great Falls)  This bill would create a weatherization account using the oil and gas production tax MEIC position:  SUPPORT.

• (H) Human Services Committee Vote Failed; Remains in Committee 2/11/2009 (vote: 8-8)  
  
• Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal    02/26/2009

HB 540:  Rep. Franke Wilmer (D-Bozeman). This bill would have increased the maximum alternative energy and energy conservation tax credits to $1,000 (from $500) and would have provided a 3-year carry- forward for unused credits.  Status: Failed in the House Taxation Committee on a tie vote.

•  (H) Hearing 2/16/2009, (H) Taxation
• (H) Committee Vote Failed 3/09/2009 (vote: 10-10); (H) Missed Deadline for Revenue Bill Transmittal 3/31/09