Montana Environmental Information Center

UPDATE: SB 7 passed the legislature, but was vetoed by Governor Bullock. Montanans deserve the freedom to make their own energy choices. We witnessed that with the outpouring of public support for the Solar Jobs and Energy Freedom Act. Across Montana, people from all walks of life agree that solar is the Montana way. Montanans are […]

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MEIC's Position: Oppose | Current bill status: Vetoed by Governor Bullock. Passed Senate, 31-18. Passed House, 56-42. | Official legislative site

Issue area: Clean Energy Bills, Clean Energy Bills - Bad

SB 337 would eliminate the Montana Board of Environmental Review. The BER has oversight authority over the Department of Environmental Quality for rule-making, as well as deciding challenges to permit decisions and enforcement actions. The BER acts as an independent body that determines whether DEQ follows the law and whether rules need to be changed to […]

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MEIC's Position: Oppose | Current bill status: Vetoed by the Governor. | Official legislative site

Issue area: Citizen Access and Good Government Bills, Clean Energy Bills, Clean Energy Bills - Bad, Clean Water Bills

UPDATE (4-10-17): SB 32 passed the legislature. Governor Bullock vetoed the bill. SB 32 would prevent jobs and new clean energy in Montana by repealing the Community Renewable Energy Projects (CREPs) provision of the Renewable Energy Standard. These projects are 25 megawatts or less in size and have majority local ownership. MDU met its requirement […]

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MEIC's Position: Oppose | Current bill status: Vetoed by Governor Bullock. (Passed House, 59-39. Passed Senate, 31-19.) | Official legislative site

Issue area: Clean Energy Bills, Clean Energy Bills - Bad

SB 154 would harm solar jobs and investments in Montana by eliminating modest incentives for net metered clean energy systems. Montana’s solar industry is on the cusp of explosive growth that would create new, good paying jobs across the state. Instead of seeking to help these new jobs and businesses grow, this bill bluntly targets only […]

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MEIC's Position: Oppose | Current bill status: Passed House 57-42. Passed Senate, 33-17. Vetoed by Governor Bullock. | Official legislative site

Issue area: Clean Energy Bills, Clean Energy Bills - Bad

This bill, as amended, would impose a $95 annual fee on electric vehicles and increase the fee $3 for every cent increase in the gas tax. It would also impose a fee on other alternative fuels like propane and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). There are only about 400 electric vehicles in Montana, putting them squarely […]

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MEIC's Position: Oppose | Current bill status: Passed Senate and House. Vetoed by the Governor. | Official legislative site

Issue area: Clean Energy Bills, Clean Energy Bills - Bad

HB 219, by Rep. Zach Brown (D-Bozeman), would require the Public Service Commission (PSC) to set minimum standards for conducting a cost-benefit analysis of net metering. NorthWestern Energy would then complete the study before a specified date: April 1, 2018. The PSC would use the utility’s results to determine any changes to be made to the net […]

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MEIC's Position: Oppose | Current bill status: Passed Senate and House. Signed by the Governor. | Official legislative site

Issue area: Clean Energy Bills, Clean Energy Bills - Bad