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Montana committee hears bipartisan push for more transmission capacity to lower costs and boost industry
Summary
Lawmakers and witnesses told a House Energy committee that Montana’s electrical transmission limits are choking new generation, raising costs and losing industry. Sponsor Rep. Greg Kametz and utilities, labor and advocates backed HJ15 as a first step to spur planning and standards.
Representative Greg Kametz opened the House Joint Resolution 15 hearing by telling the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee that Montana’s economy depends on affordable, reliable electricity and that constraints on transmission prevent new generation from reaching customers and markets.
"The health of Montana's economy is contingent on access to affordable and reliable electricity service," Kametz said, noting the state sits at the end of transmission pathways that limit exports and raise prices. He described HJ15 as "an important first step to start the conversation" about increasing transmission capacity.
Supporters from unions, utilities and environmental groups urged the committee to back the resolution. Jay Reardon of the Montana State Building Construction Trades Council said, "Electrical transmission is critical to the state," and urged a due pass. Jan Rouse of Northwestern Energy testified that the utility needs greater transmission capacity to lower costs for customers and connect contemplated wind and solar projects. McKenna Sellers of the Montana Renewable Energy Association cited a 2023 Department of Energy national transmission needs study and said interregional transmission provides larger benefits.
Public Service Commissioner Randy Pinocci pressed the committee to consider higher technical standards for conductors. "High performance conductors or power lines, can double the capacity of any power line," Pinocci said, describing carbon-fiber–core conductors that he said reduce sag, lower fire risk and allow embedded fiber optics to detect faults. He framed changes in permitting and technology as ways to raise capacity without building entirely new rights-of-way in some cases.
Committee members asked technical questions about reconductoring and how frequently long high-voltage lines are fully replaced; witnesses said reconductoring and maintenance are common on many projects, though complete replacement of long 500 kV lines is rare. Labor witnesses testified more transmission work would bring jobs home and improve safety by allowing lines to be de-energized during maintenance.
Kametz closed by saying the resolution achieved its goal of starting the statewide conversation on transmission, and the committee ended the HJ15 hearing without taking committee action that day.
The committee did not vote on the resolution during the hearing; further committee work or floor action would determine next steps.
