Needed: Bipartisan Comprehensive Permitting Reform

I’m glad that Senators Daines and Sheehy and Representatives Downing and Zinke supported the Secure Rural Schools program to help finance several counties’ schools.

But all counties need revenues to help finance infrastructure, schools, and a host of other needs. One solution: build more clean energy projects.

Stillwater and Rosebud counties praise the large tax revenues they receive from their wind farms. Other counties that want clean energy, like solar and battery storage projects, which could also provide much-needed revenues, can’t realize these projects because of a lack of transmission lines.

This is where our MT Congressional delegation could really help by negotiating comprehensive bipartisan permitting reform this Congress.

Montana Citizens’ Climate Lobby, with support from several county commissioners across the state, recently asked Senators Daines and Sheehy and Reps. Downing and Zinke to work hard this Congress on clean energy permitting reform for:

• Local job creation and investment: Streamlined federal permitting for energy projects (like wind, solar, transmission lines, and natural gas infrastructure) helps counties attract new businesses, create local jobs, and expand the tax base.
• Lower energy costs for residents and businesses: Delays in federal permitting slow down the build-out of reliable and affordable energy infrastructure. Reform can help stabilize and reduce energy costs for county residents.
• Grid reliability and resilience: Counties depend on a modern, reliable grid. Faster federal approvals for transmission and generation projects reduce the risk of outages and improve energy security.
• Support for county infrastructure needs: Energy projects permitted more quickly at the federal level bring in revenue that counties can reinvest in roads, schools, and public safety.
• Predictability and certainty for planning: Counties need clear, dependable timelines for federal energy permitting. Certainty allows local governments and developers to align land use, community engagement, and infrastructure planning without risk of sudden delays.

With energy prices rising, along with the high cost of living, we need to get cheap, clean, reliable energy up and running as fast as possible in Montana. Building transmission lines and clean energy, such as solar, wind, and battery storage projects, not only generates revenues but strengthens our grid and provides secure affordable energy for us all.