The Montana Energy Security Act
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Authors
Bahm, Kennedy
Date of Issue
2019-04-25
Type
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Abstract
Eliminating the use of coal-fired power nationwide has been a popular talking point in recent legislative debates in Washington, D.C. Despite obvious threats to the environment, investing in coal-fired energy offers considerable economic benefits to Americans. In Montana, this debate has been centered around the closure of the Colstrip Power Plant. The Montana Energy Security Act (HB 203), proposed by Representative Rodney Garcia, would permit the state of Montana to sell bonds to finance the $500m purchase of the Colstrip Power Plant. This case study offers a cost benefit analysis of the Montana Energy Security Act, comparing the societal costs and benefits to the average Montana resident if the state were to invest in coal-fired power. The results of this case study aim at addressing the larger question about the future of coal-fired energy in the United States.