Lawmakers to Discuss Carbon Sequestration, Telecommunications

The Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee of the Montana Legislature is expected to decide at a meeting May 1-2 whether to recommend draft carbon-sequestration legislation for consideration during the 2009 session.

The lawmakers also will hear an overview of the state's telecommunication systems and will wrap up work on draft legislation related to the Universal Systems Benefit (USB) program.

The committee will meet in Room 172 of the State Capitol in Helena, beginning at 8 a.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. on Friday. A complete agenda is available at www.leg.mt.gov/etic.

On Thursday afternoon, lawmakers will hear from a panel that includes representatives of the Montana Telecommunications Association and Montana Independent Telecommunications Systems. Representatives of Qwest, Vision Net, Cellular One, Verizon, and Bresnan also have been invited.

Also on the agenda are presentations on:

• The state 9-1-1 program from its manager, Becky Berger
• A wind integration study recently completed in the NorthWestern Energy service area
• Clean coal technologies
• Hydrogen development
• Demand-side energy management
• Public power
• Universal Systems Benefits
• Pick-Sloan power project

The Public Service Commission and Department of Commerce Energy Infrastructure Promotion and Development Division will provide updates of their activities.

Members of the Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee are Sens. Jerry Black, R-Shelby; Verdell Jackson, R-Kalispell; Greg Lind, D-Missoula; and Don Ryan, D-Great Falls; and Reps. Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip; Robyn Driscoll, D-Billings; Harry Klock, R-Harlowton; and Brady Wiseman, D-Bozeman.

For more information, contact Sonja Nowakowski, legislative research analyst and committee staffer, at 444-3078 or snowakowski@mt.gov.