Senate Passes Bill to Reverse Montana Coal Leasing Ban, Sends to Trump’s Desk

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate passed legislation Wednesday that would permanently overturn the Biden administration’s ban on federal coal leasing in Montana’s Powder River Basin, completing congressional action on a measure that could save thousands of jobs and millions in education funding.

The Senate approved H.J. Res. 104, which now heads to President Trump’s desk for his signature. The legislation reverses a November 2024 Bureau of Land Management decision that prohibited all future federal coal leasing across nearly 2 million acres in southeastern Montana.

“Montana energy is back,” said Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), who championed the Senate version of the bill. “Biden’s Miles City RMPA was an anti-coal rule that stifled mining in eastern Montana and would have cost many hard-working Montanans their jobs.”

The Congressional Review Act resolution passed the House in September by a narrow 211-208 margin, as previously reported by Western Montana News.

Economic Impact on Montana Communities

The Biden-era restrictions threatened nearly 1,000 mining jobs in Montana and $3 billion in annual economic activity, according to congressional estimates. The Powder River Basin provided approximately 43% of U.S. coal production in 2019, making it a critical component of America’s energy infrastructure.

“Colstrip is a proud community that has been built upon the energy produced from this amazing resource, coal,” said John Williams, mayor of Colstrip. “The continuing benefits from this amazing resource need to continue.”

The BLM’s Miles City Resource Management Plan Amendment would have cost Montana more than $4.32 billion in future revenue to state trust land beneficiaries, officials said. The measure also threatened approximately $46 million in annual state revenue that funds Montana’s K-12 education system.

Unified Montana Delegation

All four members of Montana’s congressional delegation supported the legislation, representing rare bipartisan unity on a major energy issue.

“Montanans voted to make America energy dominant, and we are delivering by putting an end to disastrous Biden-era regulations that put our resource economy on life support,” said Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT).

Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT-02), who sponsored the House version, said the legislation “will unleash Montana-made energy, bolstering our national security and ensuring Montanans have access to the affordable, reliable energy they need to thrive for generations to come.”

Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT-01) emphasized the broader energy security implications: “Our economy runs on reliable, abundant, and affordable power, and that need will only grow with increased demand from AI and data centers.”

Industry and Local Government Support

The legislation drew widespread support from Montana’s energy sector and local governments. Montana Electric Cooperatives CEO Mark Lambrecht called coal “an essential resource for reliable, baseload electricity generation and a significant economic contributor to many communities served by co-ops.”

NorthWestern Energy’s Shannon Heim said reopening eastern Montana to coal development “will increase the supply of coal, stabilizing both our operating costs at Colstrip, and costs to customers throughout our service area.”

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte praised the delegation’s “swift work to support Montana’s miners and their families” and said the measure advances “a new era of American energy dominance.”

Permanent Protection Through Congressional Review Act

The Congressional Review Act provides permanent protection against similar restrictions in the future. Unlike executive actions that can be reversed by subsequent administrations, CRA resolutions bar federal agencies from implementing “substantially similar” rules in perpetuity.

The resolution would unlock access to 37.8 billion short tons of coal — enough supply to meet U.S. demand for 73 years, according to congressional estimates. It would also generate an estimated $15 million in new federal energy revenue.

Next Steps

President Trump is expected to sign the legislation, having already moved to reopen the Powder River Basin for permitting through executive action. Congressional approval provides the permanent legal framework that mining companies need for long-term investment decisions.

“Today’s passage of my legislation to remove Biden’s anti-coal rule is a massive win for Montana that sets a precedent for the nation,” Daines told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “The American people have rejected the left’s radical climate hysteria and removing this harmful rule will help protect our energy dominance and our national security.”