Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) submitted public comments to the Environmental Protection Agency asking them to reconsider the costs and risks associated with their new rule regarding Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). These new standards threaten the continued operation of Montana’s largest and most productive electricity generating station, the Colstrip Generating Station.

“The EPA’s refusal to fully consider the economic impacts proposed by the MATS reductions will cause immense social and economic pain on the communities that Colstrip Generating Station serves,” said Rep. Rosendale. “Should this rule be finalized, the plant owners will be forced to decide between completing a $100 billion update to the plant to comply or retire the plant early. Updating the plant will result in an increase of $530 million in total cost to Colstrip’s customers, but the cost of retiring the station would be much higher. I strongly urge the EPA to reconsider this rule in light of the immense consequences it will have on the people of Montana."

Key Background:

• On April 3^rd, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a new rule to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Coal-and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units commonly known as Mercury and Air Toxics Standards.

• This new rule will force the Colstrip Generating Station to complete an extreme $100 billion update to their existing facility. If they fail to comply, the station will be retired in 2027.

• According to a study conducted by the Montana Chamber of Commerce, the closure of Colstrip in 2027 would cost 3,300 jobs, a loss of $5 billion in household income. This would create a total decline of state economic output of $12.5 billion, or almost 20% of Montana’s GDP.