LC 3166 would have required public utilities to develop and submit detailed plans outlining how they would achieve 100% renewable energy sources (like wind and solar) for their operations. The bill aimed to set specific timelines for utilities to phase out fossil fuels and transition to renewable power, directly affecting electricity providers serving the public. However, the bill was introduced in 2024, placed on hold in January 2025, and ultimately died in the legislative process in May 2025, so it never became law.
This bill (LC 2611) intended to establish specific criteria for awarding state grants and loans to support renewable energy projects. It would have directly affected renewable energy developers and applicants seeking state funding by defining eligibility requirements and application processes. However, the bill was assigned to a drafter in December 2024, placed on hold, and ultimately died in the legislative process on May 27, 2025, without becoming law. Therefore, no criteria were ever implemented.
HB 120 expands Montana's Commercial Property-Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program to include multifamily housing facilities with at least five residential units. This change directly affects property owners and developers of qualifying multifamily buildings (e.g., apartment complexes), allowing them to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades through property assessments. The bill amends definitions to explicitly include these residential properties under the program, covering improvements like insulation, solar panels, and energy-efficient appliances. It maintains the existing financing mechanism where costs are repaid through property taxes over time, without requiring new debt or upfront payments from property owners. The law took effect immediately upon the governor's signature on April 7, 2025.
HB 811 aimed to increase the maximum generating capacity for customer-generated electricity systems that use net metering. Currently, systems like those powered by solar, wind, or hydropower, which can feed excess electricity back to the grid, are limited to 50 kilowatts. This bill proposed to raise that capacity limit to 100 kilowatts. This change would directly affect customer-generators by allowing them to install larger renewable energy systems on their property and still qualify for net metering.
HB 55 revises the laws governing how public utilities plan for their customers' future energy needs. It requires public utilities to submit detailed resource plans every three years, including evaluations of renewable energy and demand-side management scenarios, and to hold more public meetings before submitting these plans. The bill establishes a special revenue account within the Department of Environmental Quality to fund an independent evaluator, paid for by fees charged to public utilities, who will assist in reviewing these plans. Additionally, the state commission can now engage independent consultants to evaluate utility plans, with these costs being recoverable in rates charged to customers.
House Joint Resolution 16 (HJ 16) is a resolution where the Montana Legislature recognizes the economic benefits that renewable energy projects have brought to the state. It expresses the Legislature's support for the future responsible development of new renewable energy projects in Montana. Copies of this resolution are to be sent to the Governor, the Montana Public Service Commission, the Montana Rural Electric Cooperatives' Association, and the Montana Congressional Delegation.
SB 294 requires Montana's public utilities (like electricity providers) to create a detailed plan by May 2026 showing how they will source 100% of their retail electricity from renewable energy (including hydroelectric power) and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plan must outline specific options, timelines, and challenges for achieving these goals, aligning with Montana's constitutional duty to protect the environment. Utilities must submit these plans to the Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee by June 2026, which will review them, gather public input, and recommend changes to the next legislature. The bill takes immediate effect upon passage but is currently inactive after dying in committee.
