Montana Congressional Delegation Urges Reversal of Biden’s Energy Policies to Support Colstrip Power Plant

Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, along with Congressmen Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing, signed a letter last week urging the Trump Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to grant a two-year compliance exemption for Montana’s Colstrip Power Plant. They argue that this exemption from the Biden-era “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Coal and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units Review of the Residual Risk and Technology Review” (MATS Rule) is crucial for preventing increased energy costs and potential service interruptions.

In their letter, the delegation highlighted the pivotal role of the Colstrip Steam Electric Station as a key baseload power source for Montana, emphasizing that an exemption would maintain economic growth and energy stability in the region. They pointed out that the barely tested combination of new required technologies, such as fabric filters alongside existing wet venturi scrubbers, would require an immense $500 million investment—technically and economically “unavailable” options due to timing and untested features. If the plant were to shut down due to non-compliance with the MATS Rule, the consequences would include heightened energy costs and grid unreliability, severely impacting both consumers and regional economic development.

“We previously criticized the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency for overstepping congressionally delegated authority and threatening grid reliability,” noted the group. They also revealed that the Biden EPA admitted 42% of the MATS Rule’s burden falls on Colstrip, specifically targeting the facility. With heightened urgency, they requested a two-year exemption to “prevent negative impacts on Montana’s electric reliability and increased costs for consumers.”