Helena — A delegation representing the Pacific Northwest economic region (identified in testimony as Penwar / PNWER) and Alberta legislators spoke to the Senate Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee about opportunities for cross‑border energy cooperation, hydrogen production potential and transmission links between Montana and Alberta.

Nate Weigel, representing the Pacific Northwest economic region and the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute program, described PNWER’s work convening officials across U.S. states and Canadian provinces and said the organization is conducting a regional hydrogen study that currently includes British Columbia and Washington and is expanding to other jurisdictions. He told the committee the study models show "Montana is going to factor very heavily for the potential production of hydrogen" and cited federal Department of Energy funding to develop hydrogen hubs.

Shane Getson, a member of the Alberta legislature (MLA) and parliamentary secretary for economic corridor development, told the committee Montana and Alberta share linear infrastructure and trade corridors. He described Alberta as an established hydrogen producer and said the province is "the largest producer of hydrogen in North America," adding that Alberta is seeking cross‑border cooperation to build infrastructure and align regulatory processes. Getson also described past cross‑border electricity flows and said transmission now sometimes moves from Montana into Alberta.

Committee members and visitors discussed possible committee-level federal-relations resolutions to affirm support for cross-border trade and infrastructure, and several senators welcomed continuing collaboration. The delegation offered to share its hydrogen study when available and invited legislators to PNWER events and an annual summit. No formal committee action resulted from the presentation.