The bill amends Section 75-26-304 of the Montana Code Annotated to clarify bonding requirements for wind and solar generation facilities. Key provisions include the requirement for facility owners to notify the Department of Environmental Quality within 12 months of commencing commercial operations, submit a decommissioning plan, and provide necessary information for bond determination. The bill also outlines exemptions from bonding requirements under certain conditions, such as when a decommissioning bond is posted with a federal agency or if the facility meets specific capacity thresholds.

Additionally, the bill introduces penalties for owners who fail to submit an acceptable decommissioning bond within the required timeframe, allowing for administrative penalties of up to $1,500. It also stipulates that if ownership of a facility is transferred, the previous owner's bond must be released after 90 days, and the new owner must submit a bond within 90 days to avoid penalties. The bill emphasizes that submitting a bond does not exempt owners from complying with other applicable regulations, including local zoning and military or airport affected areas. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 75-26-304