FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 21, 2021

MCV Education Fund: ‘Today Montana ratepayers avoided a complete disaster’ 

Northwestern Energy bailout bill tabled in House Energy Committee

(HELENA, Mont.) – In response to the House Energy Committee tabling Senate Bill 379, Executive Director Whitney Tawney of the Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund released the following statement:

“Today Montana ratepayers avoided a complete disaster. We’re thankful lawmakers finally came to their senses and look forward to working with Northwestern Energy for the clean energy future Montanans want and deserve.”

SB 379 would have allowed Northwestern Energy to recover costs associated with the acquisition, maintenance, and remediation of the coal-fired power plant in Colstrip, without oversight and approval from the Public Service Commission.

A recent survey found that 61% of Montanans disapproved of SB 379 while 69% of those surveyed had very serious concerns about Northwestern Energy bypassing the Public Service Commission to raise rates paid by Montanans.

The survey is available online HERE.

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