KGMI News
OLYMPIA, WASH. – Puget Sound Energy won’t be forced to pay for financial and housing assistance for workers at its coal-fired power plant in Montana.
A bill, sponsored by Montana State Senator Duane Ankney, that would have forced PSE to pay has stalled.
“This isn’t Montana coming after Washington rate payers to do this. The money is already there,” Ankney says.
But Andy Wappler with PSE says spending that money, which is helping laid-off workers, would set a bad precedent.
“The Montana Chamber of Commerce came out against the bill. We also know that our customers in Western Washington want us to do the right thing if that plant is retiring,” Wappler says.
PSE will be closing Colstrip plants one and two by 2022.