Montana Legislature 2005
Want to know what happened during the 2005 Legislature? The following
information summarizes energy bills that came before our lawmakers during the
2005 Legislative Session. For detailed information on these or other bills, go
to the
Look Up Bill
Information page.
Renewable Energy
SB 415 — Montana Renewable Power Production and Rural Economic
Development Act would create a Renewable Energy Standard to encourage the
development of Montana’s wind resource, diversify our energy supply, and promote
investment in rural Montana. An amendment was added in the House Energy
Committee which greatly limits the bill’s effectiveness. In contrast, the
Governor’s Amendment provides rock-solid consumer protection without
compromising the basic purposes of the act.
Status: Became law
SB 50 — Revise alternative energy system loan laws.
Strengthens the alternative energy loan program, and expands it to include
conservation.
Status: Became law
SB 83 — Clarify renewable energy projects eligible for renewable
resource grants-loans.
Status: Became law
SB 115 — Equitable taxation of wind energy facilities. The
goal of this bill is to reduce property taxes for wind projects.
Status: Became law
Energy Efficiency/Conservation
HB 212 — Energy performance contracting for public buildings.
Status: Became law
Universal Systems Benefits
HB 141 — Revise electricity universal system benefit laws.
This bill would make a number of changes to USB, including an extension of the
program through the end of 2009.
Status: probably dead
HB 136 — Clarify universal system benefits for cost-effective
renewable resource projects.
Status: probably dead
SB 34 — Revise universal system benefits laws. This bill would
also extend the USB program through 2009, but would change the allocation.
Currently, the law specifies that a minimum of 17% of the funds must go to low
income. The bill proposes increasing that figure to 40%.
Status: probably dead
SB 307 — Generally revise universal system benefits charges.
Status: probably dead
Net Metering
HB 121 — Revise net metering laws. This bill would extend the net
metering law to include the rural electric cooperatives and Montana-Dakota
Utilities (MDU).
Status: probably dead
SB 256 — Uniform net metering standards.
Status: probably dead
Other Energy Bills
HB 464 — Expand production and use of ethanol.
Status: probably dead
HB 642 — Authorize local governing entities to become
default suppliers.
Status: probably dead
SB 364 (Sen. Greg Lind)— Environmental Labeling and
Disclosure for Electric Utilities. Directs electric utilities to report fuel
mix and environmental information to their customers twice per year.
Status: probably dead
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