A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT requiring the public service commission to consider local economic losses resulting from coal plant closures in commission proceedings; and PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Evaluation of coal-fired generation plant closures and acquisitions. (1) The commission in its proceedings shall consider all economic impacts at the state and local level when evaluating the acquisition, sale, expansion, or closure of a coal-fired generation plant.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Coal-fired generation plant" means any thermal power plant that burns coal to produce electricity.
(b) "Economic impacts" means any lost state and local tax revenues, job losses in the state, and other economic impacts considered appropriate for consideration by the commission.
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 69, chapter 3, part 1, and the provisions of Title 69, chapter 3, part 1, apply to [section 1].
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.