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Committee hears competing views on HB 122, which would allow natural gas pipelines in public rights of way
Summary
At a hearing on HB 122, utility representatives said the bill simply clarifies that natural gas pipelines are utility facilities that can be placed in public rights of way; municipal and environmental groups raised safety, permitting and local-control concerns and asked for amendments, including removing broadband from the bill.
Helena — House Bill 122, which would clarify that natural gas pipelines are utility facilities that may be located or constructed in public rights of way, drew split testimony at the House Energy, Technology, and Federal Relations Committee.
Sponsor Representative Larry Brewster, who represents District 43, said the bill is a short "cleanup" to bring natural gas facilities onto the same footing as electric and telephone utilities. "This bill only has a couple of lines," Brewster told the committee, and he said he planned an amendment to remove broadband from the bill because broadband providers are not uniformly regulated.
Opponents raised safety and process concerns. Jennifer…
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