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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

Montana Senators Praise New Energy Bill

Both of Montana’s senators praised the energy bill passed by the Senate today.

Here’s Democrat Jon Tester's statement

"This Energy Policy Modernization Act is a big win for Montana, both from an energy standpoint, where we have incredible conventional energy resources, and renewable resources. And also from a public lands standpoint, for hunting and fishing and hiking."

The hunting, fishing and hiking stuff in the energy bill refers to inclusion of permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, or LWCF. The LWCF uses revenues from offshore drilling to buy land and access to land for conservation and public use. In Montana it’s been used for projects like consolidating checkerboarded private land holdings and for fishing access sites.

Republican https://youtu.be/qAKCKJK_iuY" target="_blank">Senator Steve Daines said the LWCF helps local businesses run by Montanans.

"Like Eric Grove of Great Divide Cyclery in Helena Montana, who has built his mountain bike business around the South Hills trail system outside of Helena facilitated by the LWCF."

The energy bill also authorizes $150 million in funding to address the maintenance backlog in America’s national parks.

Both Senators Daines and Tester also praised the legislation for streamlining development of energy projects nationwide and in Montana. That includes a pilot program to make drilling for oil and gas in areas where the minerals are partially owned by the federal government easier. It also eases permitting processes for wind, solar and geothermal energy projects.

The Senate bill now goes to the House, where lawmakers plan to reconcile it with a similar bill passed by that body in December.

Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke said he is “encouraged by the bill the Senate passed today and I think it gives both chambers the opportunity to pass a bill that will modernize America’s energy infrastructure and grow our production.” See Zinke's energy bill press release here. 

Zinke also praised its re-authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and provisions to export liquefied natural gas.

Eric Whitney is NPR's Mountain West/Great Plains Bureau Chief, and was the former news director for Montana Public Radio.
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