Gov. Steve Bullock met with members of the Colstrip community on Tuesday, saying he’s doing what he can to protect their energy future.  The Democratic governor’s hour-long meeting with community leaders produced no concrete solutions.

 

Bullock said the power plant’s fate, particularly the fate of its two oldest units, was mostly up to its owners and their customers.  Sen. Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip said what Colstrip needs is time.   The power plant’s future has become bleaker with every passing month.

 
Last week, the plant’s operator and co-owner, Talen Energy, announced that it no longer wanted the responsibility of running the power plant, and put Colstrip’s five other stakeholders on two-year’s notice.  Talen informed Bullock earlier in May that it was “losing millions” on power plant operations.  In April, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a plan into law allowing Puget Sound Energy to begin setting aside money for the future shutdown of Colstrip’s two oldest units.

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