Article published Jan 31, 2008

Cascade County Commission votes for rezoning land for coal-fired plant

The developer of Highwood Generating Station won a narrow victory this morning when Cascade County Commissioners agreed to rezone 660 acres of land off Salem Road east of Great Falls.

Opponents of the coal-fired facility vowed to continue fighting. One commissioner apologized to opponents before voting yes.

Despite his affirmative vote, Commissioner Joe Briggs didn’t wholeheartedly endorse the project. He said ar-guments by opponents had “won my heart” and added he was sorry to disappoint them.
“I feel like we’ve been betrayed,” Bob Lassila said moments after commissioners voted 2-1 to approve the re-zoning from farmland to heavy industrial. “It’s almost like they’re asking for litigation.”
Lassila owns land abutting the property Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission has chosen for the 250-megawatt power plant.
The property is owned by the Urquhart family, which plans to sell it to SME should the rezoning receive final approval. Now that commissioners have voted preliminarily to change the land use, a 30-day protest period kicks in, which will be followed by a final vote by the commission.
“Of course we’re pleased, but we’re not elated the neighbors feel like they do,” Mary Urquhart said at the meeting’s conclusion.
Voting for the request for an industrial zoning were commissioners Briggs and Lance Olson. Peggy Beltrone voted no.
Briggs added that he didn’t feel a zoning action by a county commission was the appropriate vehicle to set environmental policy or overrule the precedents of eminent domain. The application complies with the county’s growth policy and meets the legal requirements for a valid zoning request and as such should be granted, he said.
“To the proponents I would say, you have narrowly won an affirmative vote from me today which I expect you to earn by your actions,” Briggs said. “You have made a number of promises regarding the environmental impacts of your plant and your intentions to improve your relationships with the neighbors.”
Eminent domain is possible to obtain utility right-of-way for the project.
SME General Manager Tim Gregori said he heard a challenge in Briggs’ comments and said the company plans to earn his trust with the project. 
“We respect the difficult time the commission had in dealing with this rather contentious issue,” he said.