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Committee hears competing views on repealing sunset for coal-washing tax credit
Summary
SB 333 would repeal the sunset on the coal-washing tax credit enacted in 2009. Industry witnesses said the credit enables washing, supports Signal Peak mine jobs (about 260 employees) and preserves higher contract prices; an environmental group warned of lost local revenue and urged trigger language tied to company profitability.
Sen. Barry Usher opened a hearing on Senate Bill 333, a proposal to repeal the sunset on the coal-washing tax credit that was first enacted (Senate Bill 509) in February 2009. Usher and multiple industry witnesses argued the credit enables a value-added washing process that removes impurities and allows Montana coal to be sold at a premium on export markets.
Charles Denow of Signal Peak Energy said the mine is the state's only underground coal mine, employs about 260 people, and that washing…
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