Changes

In March 2009, Sen. Jeff Essmann (R-Billings) introduced '''Senate Bill 499''', which proposes to cut the 15 percent coal severance tax in half for coal mined for so-called "green" projects. The bill would reduce the severance tax to 7.5 percent for coal used in coal power plants or coal-gasification plants that use [[Carbon Capture and Storage|carbon capture and sequestration]] technologies. Sen. Essmann said the lower tax would make Montana competitive with states like Wyoming and would help attract new coal projects. Opponents say the bill would do nothing to increase coal production and revenue.<ref>[http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/03/18/news/state/54-greencoal.txt "Senator: Lower tax on 'green' coal,"] ''Billings Gazette,'' March 18, 2009.</ref>