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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Montana congressman confronts Inslee over coal-fired power

In this Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018 photo Rep. Greg Gianforte listens during a meeting with leaders from the Montana Department of Justice and Montana Highway Patrol in Helena, Mont.. (Matt Volz / associated press)
Associated Press

BILLINGS – Montana U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte is accusing Washington Gov. Jay Inslee of “extinguishing” the livelihoods of residents in a Montana town by seeking to ban coal-fired electricity in his state.

The Billings Gazette reports Montana Republican confronted the Washington Democrat Tuesday over southeastern Montana’s Colstrip power plant during a House Energy Committee hearing about climate change.

The Colstrip plant provides electricity to the Pacific Northwest and Montana. Washington lawmakers are considering a bill to remove carbon-based fuels from its energy supply within 25 years.

Gianforte says that would devastate the town of Colstrip and be a major blow to Montana’s economy.

Inslee, who is running for president in 2020, suggested Colstrip should follow the model for Centralia, Washington, where a transition plan is in place for a coal plant scheduled to retire next year.