Energy Committee to Finalize Potential Legislation for 2011
The Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee of the Montana Legislature will meet next week to decide whether to forward on to the 2011 Legislature four proposed bills it has been working on.
The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. Sept. 10 in Room 172 of the State Capitol. The committee also will decide whether to send a letter to the Federal Communications Commission addressing proposed federal reforms that the committee believes may put at risk investments in rural broadband telecommunications.
The public is welcome to attend and will have a chance to comment on the committee’s work. A meeting agenda and copies of the bill drafts and the draft letter are available on the legislative Web site at www.leg.mt.gov/etic.
The four bill drafts the committee will consider would:
revise the process used to review state energy policy (LC 6001);
increase Montana's renewable portfolio standard (LC 6002);
revise the statutory definition of “eligible renewable resource” to include expansions of hydroelectric facilities (LC 6003); and
extend the sunset date for wireless 9-1-1 funding (LC 6004).
Also at the meeting, the committee will complete its review of the state energy policy. Senate Bill 290, approved by the 2009 Legislature, required the committee to review and potentially revise the current energy policy. At a July meeting, the committee was unable to agree on revisions, but it may revisit the issue next week.
For more information, contact Sonja Nowakowski, committee staff, at snowakowski@mt.gov or 406-444-3078.
The meeting will be broadcast online at www.leg.mt.gov and over the state public-access television network TVMT. To find a local TVMT channel, visit www.leg.mt.gov/tvmt.
Members of the Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee are Rep. Robyn Driscoll, D-Billings (chair); Sen. Jerry Black, R-Shelby (vice chair); Rep. Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip; Rep. Tony Belcourt, D-Box Elder; Sen. Ron Erickson, D-Missoula; Sen. Verdell Jackson, R-Kalispell; Rep. Harry Klock, R-Harlowton; and Sen. Cliff Larsen, D-Missoula.
