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Montana wind setback bill draws industry and local government opposition, mixed public testimony
Summary
House Bill 389 would set statewide minimum setbacks for wind turbines from property lines, roads and dwellings. Utilities, developers and chambers warned it would eliminate most projects and cost jobs and tax revenue; ranchers and county officials urged protections for neighbors and property rights.
Sponsor remarks opened a lengthy House Energy hearing on HB 389, a one‑page bill proposing state-mandated setbacks for wind turbines from property lines, roads and residences. The sponsor framed the bill as a response to neighbors asking for minimum protections where turbines are proposed close to homes and property lines.
Industry witnesses — including Bruce Spencer of the Montana Energy Business Alliance and Dan Stusick of Puget Sound Energy — urged the committee to reject the bill. Spencer described the proposed setbacks as "punitive," warning they would require unfeasibly large acreages per turbine and cited a 2023 figure of about $4 billion in at‑risk investment if such rules were imposed. Stusick said projects such as…
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