Talen Energy is pushing Montana lawmakers for a tax break worth millions to keep two units of the coal-fired Colstrip power plant open, with one Republican leader saying Tuesday the units could close within the year without some form of assistance.
House Speaker Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, said the $10 million coal severance tax reduction proposed by the company isn’t likely in a tight budget year. But he and state Sen. Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip, said talks are continuing to look for a solution to keep Talen from shutting two of the four Colstrip units down early.
“If the parties can’t figure something out, I think they probably will close within the year,” Knudsen said. “I think it’s real.”