House Joint Resolution No. 54 requests an interim study on waste-to-energy methods and technologies in Montana. The resolution highlights the need for an all-of-the-above energy strategy to address the growing demand for electricity and the strain on landfill infrastructure due to the approximately 300 million tons of municipal solid waste generated annually in the U.S. It emphasizes the potential benefits of waste-to-energy facilities, which convert nonrecyclable waste into usable energy, and aims to explore their capacity to reduce landfill waste, methane emissions, and provide a sustainable power source.

The resolution calls for the Legislative Council to designate an appropriate interim committee to conduct the study, which will include determining the feasibility of waste-to-energy facilities in supplementing existing energy resources, analyzing the economic impacts on citizens and industries, investigating various waste-to-energy technologies, and assessing the social and environmental implications of these facilities. The study's findings and recommendations are to be presented to the 70th Legislature by September 15, 2026.