Interior Department announces $35M plus in energy revenue Highest-ever disbursements from clean energy from federal lands, waters News from the Department of the Interior
WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Interior’s Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) disbursed $21.53 billion in revenues generated in fiscal year 2022 from energy production on federal and Tribal onshore lands, and federal offshore areas, including the record $4.37 billion generated from the New York Bight offshore wind lease sale. This
year’s disbursements include the highest-ever revenues from renewable energy programs on federal lands and waters, driven by President Biden’s efforts to jump-start the American offshore wind industry and make the U.S. a magnet for clean energy investments. This year’s overall disbursement is the second largest since 1983 and provides funds for states and Tribes to pursue a variety of conservation goals, including irrigation and hydropower projects, historic preservation initiatives, efforts to protect public lands and waters, and investments in much-needed maintenance for critical facilities and infra-
Barley purchase agreement announced
News from the office of Governor Gianforte
HELENA — Governor Greg Gianforte and Montana Department of Agriculture Director Christy Clark announced on Nov. 1 a letter of intent for Heineken International Cerveceria Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma (Heineken International) to increase its purchase volume of Montana barley products. “We’re thrilled Heineken recognizes the superior quality of Montana barley and wants to do more business with our farmers,” Governor Gian-
forte said. “This agreement ushers in tremendous opportunities for our ag industry.” Governor Gianforte signed the letter of intent with representatives from Heineken International at Bos Hay and Grain in the Gallatin Gateway. Members of the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee and the U.S. Grains Council joined the governor, director, and Heineken representatives at the signing. Over the past five years, Heineken has sent three trade missions to Montana. During this trade mission, Heineken
representatives visited Montana State University Plant Science and Malt Quality Labs and received a tour of the Ag Depot. Additionally, they met with representatives from the Montana State Grain Lab, Columbia Grain, and United Grain. “The Montana Department of Agriculture is proud of the exceptional quality of barley that we grow here in our state,” Agriculture Director Christy Clark said. “We appreciate this group of buyers and representatives coming to Montana to source their high-quality barley needs.”
structure on our public lands. This year, $1.59 billion was distributed to Tribes and individual Indian mineral owners; $3.32 billion to the Reclamation Fund; $1.02 billion to the Land and Water Conservation Fund; $150 million to the Historic Preservation Fund; $460 million to federal agencies; and $10.64 billion to the U.S. Treasury. ONRR also disbursed $4.36 billion in fiscal year 2022 funds to 33 states. This revenue was collected from oil, gas, renewable energy and mineral production on federal lands within the states’ borders and from offshore oil and gas tracts in federal waters adjacent to four Gulf states’
shores. Montana received one of the highest disbursements based on that activity: Montana - $35.07 million The revenues disbursed to 33 federally recognized Tribes and approximately 31,000 individual Indian mineral owners represent 100% of the revenues received for energy and mineral production activities on Tribal lands. Tribes use these revenues to develop infrastructure, provide health care and education, and support other critical community development programs, such as senior centers, public safety projects and youth initiatives. Energy and mineral revenues collected, accounted for, analyzed, audited and dis-
bursed by ONRR are generated from energy and mineral leases and other monies owed for the use of public resources on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf and onshore federal and Tribal lands. Since 1982, the Department has disbursed more than $353.1 billion in mineral leasing revenues. ONRR makes most of these disbursements monthly from the royalties, rents and bonuses it collects from energy and mineral companies operating on federal lands and waters. A complete list of states receiving revenues and FY 2022 disbursement data is available on the Natural Resources Revenue Data portal.
Challenge filed to state-sanctioned sex, marital status discrimination in insurance ratemaking
News from Upper Seven Law Firm
HELENA — Several individuals and organizations filed suit Wednesday to invalidate House Bill 379, a law that allows insurance companies to discriminate on the basis of sex and marital status when setting insurance premium rates for Montanans. For nearly 40 years, Montana has barred insurance companies from using sex and marital status to set insurance rates. Now, individuals across Montana, including the plaintiffs, will face discriminatory insurance practices. Worse, they will be barred from any remedy for that discrimination. While Montanans who face sex- and marital status-based discrimination generally may file a complaint under the Montana Human Rights Act, HB 379 closes the door on claims of discrimination in insurance ratemaking. Legislators claimed that HB 379 would be good for women in particular but failed to examine
Valley Journal
the data closely. In fact, when sex is considered, women are often subject to higher rates. Perhaps even more concerning, insurance rates are arbitrarily discriminatory when based solely on sex and marital status, leading to inconsistent and contradictory rate determinations. As a result, both men and women face unpredictable discrimination in different insurance markets. “I expect to pay insurance premiums that take into account my driving record or my claims history. But being a woman or unmarried just isn’t relevant to any assessment of risk,” said Kiah Abbey. “Institutional sexism already costs women through smaller paychecks—for the state to actively condone sexism adds insult to injury.” “As a small business owner and building contractor working in the town where I was born, I believe in treating each and every client honestly and fairly,” said Will Randall. “I’ve been paying premiums for car, home, and
business insurance for decades. For insurance companies to be able to raise my rates now, only because of my sex or marital status, makes no sense at all.” The Montana Constitution expressly prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and broadly protects against treating people differently based on irrational classifications. It also prohibits granting special favors through legislation—like giving insurance providers a free pass to discriminate, while banning it in other contexts. “I was proud when Montana first took a stand against insurance discrimination,” said Diane Sands. “Montana led the nation then and has ensured equality in insurance for nearly 40 years. Moving backward now is not only unwise, but also violates the Montana Constitution.” Niki Zupanic and Rylee Sommers-Flanagan of Upper Seven Law and Kimberly Dudik of Kimberly Dudik & Associates represent the plaintiffs. November 9, 2022 - 5
