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Lawmakers approve interim study on Montana electric transmission capacity (SJ 12)
Summary
The Senate Energy Committee approved Senate Joint Resolution 12 to request an interim study of Montana’s electric transmission capacity, with proponents citing congestion, lost industrial investment, and Montana’s wind potential as reasons to study transmission constraints and solutions.
The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee voted to advance Senate Joint Resolution 12, which requests an interim study of Montana's electric transmission capacity and its economic impacts. Supporters told the committee that transmission congestion is curtailing the state's ability to develop and ship electricity and that a targeted study could identify solutions.
Sponsor Sen. Greg Hunter framed the resolution as an effort to "analyze the economic impact on Montana citizens and an industry due to the observed congestion and curtailments of transmission pathways" and to deliver a final study to the 70th Legislature. "A very secure, reliable, resilient power grid ... enables generation sources [and] serves as a foundation for an affordable and reliable power," Hunter said.
Bruce Spencer of Renewable Northwest said transmission is the limiting factor for growth and cited a recent loss of an Idaho facility and jobs tied to a lack of reliable, low‑cost power: "Without transmission, we can't generate electricity and get it where it needs to go to be used," Spencer said. He urged the committee to study the gaps and identify legislative tools to improve Montana's transmission capacity.
Other proponents included the Montana Association of Oil, Gas and Coal Counties, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 44, construction trades, the Montana Renewable Energy Association, and large industrial customers grouped as "LCG," each urging a study to inform policy or to help bring jobs and projects to Montana.
Committee discussion touched on participation in the study and whether large customer groups would provide parameters and recommendations; an LCG representative said the group would "participate robustly" and could supply candidate system goals for the study. The sponsor closed by saying the study would examine interconnection queues, large loads and congestion, and "assist in developing Montana's transmission for the future." The committee later advanced SJ 12 by voice vote.
Why it matters: Multiple witnesses said Montana ranks high for wind and other resources but lacks the transmission infrastructure to move that generation to markets. Proponents tied transmission capacity to jobs and major industrial investment decisions.
What’s next: SJ 12 was advanced out of committee; the resolution requests an interim study whose findings would be reported to the legislature for future policy consideration.
