Duane Ankney
Duane Ankney | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Montana Senate from the 20th district | |
| In office January 5, 2015 – January 2, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Eric Moore |
| Member of the Montana House of Representatives from the 43rd district | |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 5, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Monica Lindeen |
| Succeeded by | Clayton Fiscus |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 14, 1946 Lewiston, Idaho, U.S. |
| Died | September 6, 2025 (aged 79) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Carol Schillinger Ankney |
| Children | 5 |
| Residence | Colstrip, Montana |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Service years | 1964–1969 |
Duane Ankney (April 14, 1946 – September 6, 2025) was an American politician in the state of Montana. He was a Republican member of the Montana Senate representing District 20 from 2015 until his death, and a member of Montana House of Representatives for District 43, which includes a portion of the Yellowstone County area, from 2007 to 2015.[1][2][3]
Ankney died on September 6, 2025, at the age of 79.[4]
Political positions
Energy
Ankney was a supporter of coal usage. In 2015, Ankney introduced Senate Bill 402, which would have required utilities to pay an impact fee to close a power plant before 2025. Portions of the revenue made from the fee would have gone to school districts and the Montana Department of Commerce. The bill failed on a 49–49 vote in the Montana House of Representatives.[5] While debating with senators from Washington state on whether to shut down the Colstrip Power Plant, Ankney argued that the electricity helped build the state in the 1970s.[6]
References
- ^ "Copper Book: Lawmakers of Montana, Legislative Session of 2021". Montana State Legislature. Montana Legislative Services Division. p. 12. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- ^ "Sen. Duane Ankney". leg.mt.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ "Duane Ankney's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ Larson, Seaborn. "Storied Montana lawmaker, coal miner, organizer from Colstrip dies at 79". Billing's Gazette. Billings Gazette. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
- ^ Ragar, Shaylee. "Lessons from Centralia: Washington coal town shows how Montana's coal country might endure". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
- ^ "Montana lawmakers ask Washington state for time on Colstrip". The Billings Gazette. Associated Press. Retrieved December 17, 2020.