Montana lawmakers craft measures to deal with plant closure

A package of bills crafted by a legislative panel would hit Puget Sound Energy and Talen Energy with millions of dollars in fees for 10 years following the closure of Colstrip Units 1 and 2 in southeastern Montana.

The future of Colstrip, the second-largest coal-fired plant west of the Mississippi River, has been increasingly uncertain amid a declining coal market, increasing regulations and numerous lawsuits filed by environmental organizations.

The lawmaker who requested the bills, Republican state Sen. Duane Ankney, of Colstrip, said the aim is not to retaliate against Colstrip's owners for shutting down the units, but to make sure laid off workers are taken care of and to help the city of Colstrip, Rosebud County and the state make the transition from the tax revenue the plant provides.

Another proposed bill would draw $50 million from Montana's coal severance tax fund to pay for grants to help communities hurt by natural resource industry closures.

Public Service Commissioner Roger Koopman questioned the entire package of bills, saying the "social welfare" programs included in them would give laid-off workers false hope they will have a future in Colstrip beyond the units' closure.