Lawmakers hear sharp debate over HJ 17 calling on federal government to speed energy development

House Joint Resolution 17, which urges the federal government to take steps to accelerate energy development, drew hours of sharply divided testimony at a hearing of the Montana House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee on May 17. Sponsor Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick framed the measure as a call for federal action to expand mining and energy development and to review recent Environmental Protection Agency rules he described as burdensome.

Fitzpatrick told the committee the resolution ‘‘expresses the sense of the legislature that Congress and the president…need to take some actions to promote energy development,’’ citing growing demand from data centers and other users.

Proponents credited in testimony said faster permitting and more mining would strengthen energy and national security. Gordon Criswell, director of environmental and compliance at the Coal Strip power plant,…