Tester Secures Major Investments to Improve Montana’s Water Infrastructure and Energy Potential

Senate Appropriations Bill Includes Critical Funding for Rural Montana Water Projects, Fish and Wildlife Conservation, and Energy Development

(U.S. Senate)-Senator Jon Tester today secured major investments to upgrade rural water projects for Montana communities, farmers and ranchers, improve fish and wildlife conservation for sportsmen, and increase traditional and renewable energy development.

The 2017 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which was unanimously passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee in April, includes many provisions that Tester successfully championed.

“It is critical that Montana families have reliable access to clean water and affordable energy,” Tester said. “This bill makes important investments in our rural water infrastructure for families and irrigators, and provides much needed resources to protect good-paying energy jobs across Montana.”

Tester successfully pushed for the following investments to be included in the bill:

Water Infrastructure

• $43.8 million in additional funding for construction of ongoing rural water projects in the west, including Rocky Boy’s-North Central Montana Rural Water System and Fort Peck-Dry Prairie Rural Water System. This funding is in addition to.
• $3.7 million for construction on the Rocky Boy’s-North Central Montana Rural Water System, which supplies water to communities, farmers, and ranchers in northcentral Montana.
• $4.6 million for construction on the Fort Peck-Dry Prairie Rural Water System, which supplies water to communities, farmers, and ranchers in northeast Montana. 
• $12.7 million to construct and upgrade water infrastructure related to the Crow Tribe Water settlement.
• $10 million for water infrastructure projects under the Water Resources Development Act Section 595 program, which benefits rural Montana communities.
• $5.5 million for upgrades and maintenance on the Fort Peck Dam.
• $2 million for upgrades and maintenance on the Libby Dam.

Fish and Wildlife Conservation

• $18 million for the Missouri River Recovery Program to fund fish and wildlife recovery on the Missouri River and its tributaries.

Energy Development

• $207 million to increase resources for Carbon Capture and Storage research and development, helping unlock opportunities for Montana power producers.
• $95.4 million to support wind power research and development, including mitigation of conflicts with wildlife and distributed wind energy technologies 
• $3.9 million to incentivize hydroelectric energy development on existing dams.

The 2017 Energy and Water Appropriations bill was approved by the full Senate by a vote of 90-8.