This bill aims to revise the decommissioning and bonding laws for wind and solar facilities in Montana. It mandates that owners must secure a decommissioning bond before the construction and operation of these facilities, with specific timelines for decommissioning after abandonment or the end of a facility's useful life. The bill introduces new requirements for decommissioning plans, including detailed scopes of work and cost estimates, and establishes penalties for non-compliance. It also amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect these changes, including the definitions of key terms and the conditions under which decommissioning bonds are required.

Key amendments include the requirement for decommissioning to begin within 12 months of abandonment and to be completed within 24 months, unless otherwise approved by the department. The bill also specifies that the initial decommissioning bond must be 125% of the calculated amount prior to construction, and it outlines exemptions for certain facilities based on size and operational dates. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the annual review of decommissioning plans and bond amounts, as well as a notification requirement to tribal governments regarding the new regulations. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 75-26-301, 75-26-304, 75-26-308, 75-26-310
SB0160_1(1): 75-26-301, 75-26-304, 75-26-308, 75-26-310
SB0160_1(2): 75-26-301, 75-26-304, 75-26-308, 75-26-310
SB0160_1(3): 75-26-301, 75-26-304, 75-26-308, 75-26-310
SB0160_1(4): 75-26-301, 75-26-304, 75-26-308, 75-26-310
SB0160_1(5): 75-26-301, 75-26-304, 75-26-308, 75-26-310
SB0160_1: 75-26-301, 75-26-304, 75-26-308, 75-26-310