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Montana lawmakers hear bipartisan call to expand electric transmission capacity
Summary
Lawmakers heard proponents urge passage of House Joint Resolution 15, which asks state leaders to press utilities and regulators to prioritize expanded transmission capacity so Montana can deliver and trade more electricity from new generation.
Representative John Kametz, sponsor of House Joint Resolution 15, opened a committee hearing Friday saying Montana’s economy depends on “access to affordable and reliable electricity service,” and that current limits in transmission infrastructure threaten growth and the state’s ability to move new generation to customers.
The resolution does not authorize construction but asks state leaders and utilities to prioritize transmission development. Kametz said Montana faces “projections for rapid growth and electricity demand” and noted that “new generation cannot connect to the grid and reach Montanans without adequate infrastructure to move electrons.”
Proponents from labor, utilities and clean-energy organizations told the House Energy, Technology and Government Affairs Committee the state needs both new lines and upgrades to existing ones. Jan Rouse of Northwestern Energy said the utility “wants to provide more power to lower the cost to our customers” and that the company lacks capacity to interconnect contemplated wind and solar projects. Nick Fitzmaurice, energy transition engineer at the Montana Environmental Information Center, said, “electric transmission infrastructure capacity is essential for reliable and affordable electricity in the state.”
Construction and trades witnesses emphasized workforce and safety implications. Beau Shuman of IBEW Local 44 said more transmission capacity would let crews de-energize lines for safer maintenance; working live high-voltage lines, he said, “takes a lot longer, and it’s a lot more dangerous.” Other speakers — including McKenna Sellers of the Montana Renewable Energy Association and Jay Reardon of the Montana State Building Construction Trades Councils — urged that the resolution be sent forward as a first step.
Witnesses referenced broader research and examples to make the technical case. McKenna Sellers pointed lawmakers to a Department of Energy national transmission needs study (2023) showing nationwide capacity shortfalls and benefits of interregional transmission; a witness also cited a single Texas line that reportedly saved $13 million a year in line-loss savings. Witnesses urged the committee to treat the resolution as the start of a longer legislative and regulatory conversation about permitting, interconnection and potential financing.
Representative Kametz closed by repeating that the resolution is designed to stimulate planning and discussion rather than to build infrastructure directly. The committee held the bill hearing; no final committee action was recorded during the session.
Votes at a glance: Hearing only — no committee vote recorded.
