HELENA — Montana’s House of Representatives rejected a bill that would allow NorthWestern Energy to purchase an additional portion of a coal-fired power plant in southeastern Montana.
The bill also would have allowed the utility to purchase additional capacity on a high-voltage power line.
The bill was amended in a House committee to remove requirements that the Public Service Commission include spending on updates to the plant in power rates. It had passed 62-38 on second reading in Monday.
It was not immediately clear why the bill failed on Tuesday. Several conservative Republicans switched their votes from yes to no. It’s possible the idea could be amended into another bill in the final 10 days of the session.