Dear Conservation Voter,

The Montana Legislative Session will wrap up by the end of April, and these last few weeks before adjournment are crucial.

While you've heard from us in the last few weeks about several bad bills (HB 483 and SB 257) that forge ahead, there are a few hopeful measures that boost energy efficiency and conservation.  I'll update you on progress on the bad bills at the bottom of this post.

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Help Pass Proactive Energy Efficiency Bills

Clearly, energy independence and global warming are major international policy problems. 

However, there's a lot we can do at home to reduce our greenhouse gas footprint.  Some modest energy efficiency bills are making their mark this session.

House Bill 361 (sponsored by Rep. Brady Wiseman, D-Bozeman) could go a long way to make our cities and counties better environmental stewards.  The measure authorizes cities and counties to establish Energy Improvement Districts, to make loans to local property owners for energy efficiency and small renewable energy projects. 

This simple step creates jobs, reduces energy bills and whittles away greenhouse gas emissions, and provides a mechanism for home or small business owners to do their part to address climate change.

The bill passed through the House of Representatives, and is in the Senate Local Government committee, with a hearing today at 3pm.  Special thanks to the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) for excellent leadership so far on the bill.

Call members of the Senate Local Government Committee today and urge them to support HB 361!

1. Call 406.444.4800 during business hours, and leave a message for your Senator.
2. Email committee members here.
3. Ask them to support HB 361, the bill that gives local governments the authority to provide loans for energy efficiency and small renewable projects.

HB 420 (sponsored by Rep. Michele Reinhart, D-Missoula) allows local governments to improve energy codes by establishing voluntary, incentive-based energy conservation standards for new green construction.

This bill is headed to the Senate floor, so please call your member and ask him/ her to support HB 420, the bill that allows local governments to improve energy codes.

1. Find your Senator here by entering your zipcode into the search bar on the left.
2. Call and leave a message for them during business hours, at 406.444.4800, or email them.

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Update on Anti-Environment Bills HB 483 and SB 257- call Governor Schweitzer and ask him to veto these bills!

First, thanks to those of you who called your legislator or Governor Schweitzer to state your opposition to these bills. 

A dozen or more conservation and environmental groups across the state are working feverishly to kill these bills, and we need your help.

HB 483 makes it close to impossible for citizens to appeal an environmental permit, eroding our ability to protect private property and public health.  Read more about the bill in this excellent opinion editorial from Rep. Mike Phillips, and PSC Commissioners Gail Gutsche and John Vincent.

The bill passed the legislature, and awaits Governor Schweitzer's veto or approval.

SB 257 renders the Renewable Energy Standard useless by counting routine upgrades to dams toward the standard. If the bill passes, the standard would be almost instantly met, destroying the powerful and effective incentive for development of new renewable resources like wind.

The bill passed the Senate, passed House Energy, and is headed to the House floor for second reading.  The bill could be up for a vote anytime between tomorrow and April 14^th. 

Please call your Representative at 444.4800 and urge him/her to vote "no" on SB 257.  Or email them.

Please call Governor Schweitzer and ask him to veto HB 483 and SB 257 (if it makes it to his desk):

1.     Call him during business hours at 444.3111.

2.     Email him here.

As always, thanks for reading.
Sarah Cobler, Program Director
Montana Conservation Voters

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