2011 MONTANA LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION

EXTREME ACTION ALERT - NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE SENATE ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE TO KILL HB 198

HB 198: EMINENT DOMAIN - EXECUTIVE ACTION IS MONDAY, 4/11, AT 11 AM. CONTACT THE SENATE ENERGY COMMITTEE NOW!

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

- EMAIL THE SENATE ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE AND TELL THEM TO VOTE NO ON HB 198 - EMAIL LIST OR -

BLOCK OF SENATE ENERGY EMAILS:

ajolson@midrivers.com, vjack@centurytel.net, ron.senate@gmail.com, shannonjaugare@aol.com,

jessmann@mt.gov, lakemill@montana.com, lyndamoss@imt.net, jason@priest2010.com,

tropila@mt.net, kvandyk@mt.gov, cvvincent@hotmail.com, ewalker@edwalker

- CALL THE CAPITOL AT 406-444-4800 BEFORE 11 AM AND LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE SENATE ENERGY COMMITTEE TELLING THEM TO VOTE NO ON HB 198 (PHONE LINES ARE OPEN FROM 7:30 AM TO 5 PM).

-USE THE LEGISLATIVE ONLINE MESSAGE FORM TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE SENATE ENERGY AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE TELLING THEM TO VOTE NO ON HB 198.

- ASK FRIENDS STATE-WIDE TO JOIN IN OPPOSITION TO HB 198

 

House Bill 198 – Generally Revise Eminent Domain – strongly oppose: Rep. Ken Peterson (R) - This bill expands eminent domain to allow public utilities and out-of-state, out-of-country, private corporations to exercise the right to condemn private property for corporate profit. Public utilities include NorthWestern Energy that proposes their 500 kV export merchant line Mountain States Transmission Intertie (MSTI) and Montana Dakota Utility (MDU). Private foreign corporations include Toronto-based Tonebridge Power working on the Montana Alberta Tie-Line (MATL). MATL impacts 250 landowners in Montana and 113 landowners in Alberta. TransCanada would like eminent domain to pave the way for their 500 - 850 kV merchant transmission line, Chinock. The Chinock will follow along the path of MSTI. The majority of the MSTI transmission route from Townsend to Whitehall, south Butte, Melrose, Divide, Dillon to Midpoint Idaho, is sited on numerous private property owners land effecting many homes and grazing lands.

GROUPS THAT OPPOSE HB 198

PolyMontana – An edberry.com site http://polymontana.com/

Northern Plains Resource Council - http://www.northernplains.org/

Montana Farmers Union http://www.montanafarmersunion.com/

Montana Farm Bureau Federation -http://mfbf.org/

Montana Stockgrowers Association - http://www.mtbeef.org/

Montana Cattle Women - http://www.montanacattlewomen.org/

Women Involved in Farm Economics - http://www.facebook.com/WIFEline

Beaverhead Outdoors Association -BOA

Lewis & Clark's Conservative Tea Party - http://www.lccteaparty.org/

Concerned Citizens Montana – www.concernedcitizensmontana.net

Keep It Rural Southwestern Montana - www.keepitrural.net

Stop the Grid - http://www.stopthegrid.org/

Save Scenic Jefferson Valley Coalition - http://www.savescenicjv.org/

Friends for Southwest Montana - schendel@mtweb.net

MoveMSTI -www.movemsti.com

Jefferson County Commissioners -http://jeffco.mt.gov

Lewis and Clark Chapter of Trout Unlimited -http://www.lctu.org

Jefferson River Canoe Trail Association -http://www.jeffersonriver.org

Hertha Lund – MATL opposition -Lund@Lund-Law.com

GREAT INFORMATION SOURCE ON HB 198:

Western Ag Reporter -http://westernagreporter.com(a subscription is needed, but you can sign up for a 2 month online trial subscription.

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SB 206 (1 MILE-WIDE ENERGY CORRIDOR) AND SB 320 (POWERLINE UPGRADE) HAVE BOTH PASSED 3RD READINGS.

SB320 (Exemption of Major Facility Siting Act) - oppose

The bill allows transmission expansion without environmental and economic review by exemption of the Major Facility Siting Act. Therefore, utilities get a blank check with zero oversight and zero permiting even for new transmission lines. From a 69 kV transmission line to a 500 kV with no public proceedings? SB320 takes away landowners rights to appeal the taking of private property and challenges a transmission route with approval of 75% of the land owners consent. Why would we take away the right of appeal from 25% landowners when planning the largest of transmission lines? How is this due process? The Montana Public Service Commission voted overwhelmingly (4-1) to oppose the bill due to concerns for the severe consumer rate impacts that are predicted for our Montana families and businesses. Should our concern not be for the ratepayers of Montana and the economic consequences of exporting our legacy power to out-of-state, higher price markets on "upgraded" lines? The bill passed the House 63-33 and will now go to the Governor's desk.

SB206 (1 Mile-wide corridor) - oppose

The bill allows the DEQ to permit 500ft within a 1 mile-wide corridor. According to the fiscal note of the bill, the widened corridor will extend the time required to issue a certificate and cause the Major Facility Siting Act staff and third-party contractors to evaluate more information, increase interaction with concerned citizens, and increase costs to applicants in permitting the facility. There may also be increased litigation costs for the state and the applicant as a result of the bill. The bill increased litigation costs cannot be estimated and are not included in the analysis, but could be significant long-term impacts over time. The bill will and another position (Environmental Science Specialist) to the DEQ staff with salary & benefit cost of $50, 440 for 2012. Total revenues per year are estimated at $613, 386. The bill passed the House and will now go to the Governor's desk.

(Note: MATL has radio advertisements to visit their website MATLCA.com. Under, MATL's Commitment to Landowners, here is their explanation for SB320 & SB206. SB320/Would encourage transmission line developers to upgrade their facilities within existing corridors by exempting those upgrades from MFSA review. MATL supports this effort to encourage better planning and coordination of utility upgrades. SB206/Would provide greater flexibility in the siting of a transmission line on future projects, allowing landowners to work with the project developer during the final design process to make adjustments to the alignment. MATL supports this effort as a responsible way to satisfy individual needs and be a good long-term neighbor to those impacted by our projects.)

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Legislative Bills can be reviewed online at: www.leg.mt.gov