Bill Proposes Millions In Loans To Keep Colstrip Plants Running

The speaker of Montana’s House is hoping to extend the life of the coal-fired power plants in Colstrip by offering their operators loans to keep them running for at least the next five years.

Austin Knudsen’s Senate Bill 338 would allow the state to give up to $10 million a year in loans, if the money is used to keep the coal-fired plant’s two older units open until their scheduled close date of July, 2022.