Montana Senators Work to Preserve Bull Mountains Mine Jobs and Energy Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines, alongside Montana’s junior Senator Tim Sheehy, is leading a renewed legislative effort to ensure the continued operation of the Bull Mountains Mine in Musselshell County. During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, Daines underscored the critical economic role the mine plays in supporting local communities, preserving Montana’s energy independence, and maintaining hundreds of high-paying jobs.

Highlighting the stakes during testimony from Brian Somers, President of the Utah Mining Association, Daines stated, “Let’s talk about the Bull Mountains coal mine. This is a mine near Roundup, Montana. It plays a crucial role in Montana’s energy economy. The mine employs 250 people. These are high-paying jobs with good benefits. It generates over $90 million a year in state, local, and federal taxes and revenues. It is the lifeblood of Musselshell County.” He added, “Unfortunately, these jobs are now at risk and the life of the mine and the community it serves are in limbo because of the checkerboard federal ownership in Montana and as well as this long-wall mining process. This mine is running out of permitted coal and might be forced to close.”

Legislative Efforts to Keep the Mine Open

Daines has introduced Senate Bill 362 as a targeted short-term solution, which previously garnered bipartisan support. The bill offers a specific provision for continued mining under established permits, aiming to fend off immediate job losses and sustain the community dependent on the industry. SB362 is intended as a stopgap measure while Congress works to pass the Crow Revenue Act, a more comprehensive legislative solution that would resolve long-standing federal land ownership issues on the Crow Reservation.

The Crow Revenue Act: A Long-Term Solution for Land Ownership and Economic Stability

The Crow Revenue Act would transfer approximately 4,660 acres of private subsurface inholdings from the Hope Family Tracts on the Crow Reservation to the Crow Tribe of Montana in exchange for 4,530 acres of federal subsurface and 940 acres of federal surface interests in Musselshell County, the Bull Mountains Tracts. The bill also requires the Crow Tribe and the Hope Family to enter into a Revenue Sharing Agreement for any interests developed in the Bull Mountains Tracts, ensuring economic benefits for both parties.

This land transfer resolves long-standing inholding disputes, unlocking revenue opportunities for the Crow Tribe while providing certainty for the Bull Mountains Mine’s future operations. The approach mirrors the Northern Cheyenne Lands Act of 2014, which successfully addressed similar land and resource issues while supporting tribal economic development.

Support from Montana Leadership

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte voiced his support for the legislation last May, stating, “The Crow Revenue Act benefits all of Montana. It’s a commonsense solution that provides certainty and revenue to the Crow Tribe and allows access to vital energy resources in our state. I applaud Senator Daines for bringing this bill and I strongly support its passage.”

National Energy Security and AI Innovation

In his dialogue with Sommers, Daines also drew attention to wider national impacts, noting, “The coal industry not only supplies Americans with a low-cost, reliable, and secure source of energy—it’s called baseload power—but also generates millions of dollars in federal, state, and local revenue per year while creating hundreds of well-paying jobs in Montana.” Daines further emphasized that major technology companies, including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services, have raised concerns about the shortage of baseload power as a limiting factor in innovation, particularly in the advancement of artificial intelligence. He stressed that maintaining a stable and reliable energy supply is not just critical for Montana’s economy but for the nation’s technological competitiveness.

Next Steps

By advancing SB362, Daines and his colleagues aim to prevent an economic crisis in Musselshell County while laying the groundwork for a permanent solution through the Crow Revenue Act. Daines closed his remarks by saying, “This will allow enough time for the Trump Administration to finalize a new permit, for Congress to pass legislation like my Crow Revenue Act, to bring long-term economic certainty for the workers in Musselshell County as well as the Crow Reservation and the Crow Nation.”.