Montana Highlights April 1, 2021

Watercraft inspection stations are opening up across Montana for the 2021 season. Just which inspection stations are open can be seen on a FWP website map. FWP officials claim inspection stations are the state’s first step in preventing the movement of aquatic invasive species (AIS), which can have devastating impacts on Montana waterways. A report on activities from the 2019 season show the agency performed over 113,000 watercraft inspections and intercepted 16 mussel-fouled vessels.

Senate Bill 379 has raised some eyebrows of the Montana PSC and environmental groups as it would allow owners of coal-fired power assets to recover costs for any underappreciated value and expenses from energy consumers. The bill would allow the utility to recover market value for new ownership of a coal power asset.

Watercraft inspection stations are opening up across Montana for the 2021 season. Just which inspection stations are open can be seen on a FWP website map. FWP officials claim inspection stations are the state’s first step in preventing the movement of aquatic invasive species (AIS), which can have devastating impacts on Montana waterways. A report on activities from the 2019 season show the agency performed over 113,000 watercraft inspections and intercepted 16 mussel-fouled vessels.

Canadian coal company Teck Resources has paid a $60 million fine after pleading guilty to pollution discharges that have killed nearly all the fish in nearby waters. Canadian investigators found the mining company discharged hazardous amounts of selenium and calcite into the Fording River from two coal mines in the Elk Valley, just north of Eureka, Montana. Some of that selenium has been connected to fish damage in Montana Koocanusa Reservoir and the Kootenai River. The decision came in a Canadian federal court in Fernie, British Columbia. The fine is 10 times as large as any previous punishment imposed under Canada’s Fisheries Act.

 The city of Williston, North Dakota has negotiated a contract with Delta Airline to bring flights back to Williston. The one-year agreement promises to subsidize SkyWest Airlines which has partnered with Delta for flights to Minneapolis. If passenger numbers fail to make it profitable the city will reimburse losses to the airlines on a quarterly basis.

Revolving Loan Fund.  In February, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $1.2 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Northern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District, Bozeman, to capitalize and administer a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF).  Businesses adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Gallatin and Park counties will be eligible for these funds. Special recognition goes to the City of Belgrade, which provided $250,000 for the local match requirement. The Department of Commerce estimates that the total investment will create 40 jobs, retain 125 jobs, and generate $10 million in private investment.

Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Administration Director Misty Ann Giles have announced the appointment of Kevin Gilbertson to serve as Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the State of Montana.

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) announced  a proposal to widen shoulders and add rumble strips to about 7.6 miles of Highway S 421, north of Lodge Grass. The project begins approximately seven miles south of Garryowen 7.6 miles ending approximately one mile northwest of Lodge Grass.  Construction is tentatively planned for 2024 depending on completion of design and availability of funds.

NorthWestern Energy will begin upgrading the Montana Street substation in Butte to enhance reliability for 6,000 electric customers in the area.

North Dakota’s daily crude output for January was 1.147 million barrels, a 4% drop from December. The decline was attributed to high winds in January that caused power outages that interrupted oil production. The outages knocked about 50,000 barrels per day offline.

The U.S. oil pricing benchmark, West Texas Intermediate, has risen above $60 per barrel, where it sat at the start of 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic hit and sent prices crashing. Experts view the current price as a blip. Wells idled during the pandemic are expected to be brought back online. Uncertainty about the Bakken reins as ND producers worry about the potential shutdown of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a prospect that could come out of a court hearing slated for April 9. Producers are considering having to move more oil by rail or potentially trucking it from the Bakken across Interstate 94 past Bismarck and then south to Linton.