FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 14th, 2021

New Survey: Montanans Reject SB 379

69% of voters have serious concerns with a bill that green lights the purchase of more coal

(BOZEMAN, Mont.) – The Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund today released a public opinion survey on Senate Bill 379, sponsored by Senator Steve Fitzpatrick (R-Great Falls).

“Forcing Montanans to bankroll NorthWestern Energy shareholders is unacceptable,” said Whitner Chase, Program Director of Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund. “We simply can’t afford this bill. A vast majority of Montanans reject SB 379 and lawmakers should listen to their constituents .”

The survey found that 61% of Montanans disapprove of SB 379 and 69% of those surveyed had very serious concerns about NorthWestern Energy bypassing the Public Service Commission to raise rates paid by Montanans. The bill drew resistance from Montanans across the political spectrum, including 60% of Republican respondents with very serious concerns about SB 379 increasing utility bill levels for ratepayers without Public Service Commission approval.

Public Policy Polling surveyed 922 Montana voters on April 12 by telephone and has a margin of error of +/- 3.2%.

The survey is available online HERE.

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Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund is a non-profit, non-partisan organization engaging all Montanans and their communities by empowering them to protect our clean air, clean water, public lands and voting rights through education, mobilization and the power of grassroots advocacy. The MCV Education Fund programs educate the public about critical environmental and public lands issues; promote greater nonpartisan citizen involvement in the democratic process; and provide strategic tools to conservation organizations to be more effective. Visit mtvotersedfund.org for more details.