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]

Duane Ankney
Member of the Montana Senate
from the 20th district
In office
January 5, 2015  January 2, 2023
Preceded byEric Moore
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 43rd district
In office
January 3, 2007  January 5, 2015
Preceded byMonica Lindeen
Succeeded byClayton Fiscus
Personal details
Born(1946-04-14)April 14, 1946
DiedSeptember 6, 2025(2025-09-06) (aged 79)
PartyRepublican
SpouseCarol Schillinger Ankney
Children5
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Navy
Service years
1964–1969

Ankney died on September 6, 2025, at the age of 79.[4]

Political positions

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Energy

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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

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  1. "Copper Book: Lawmakers of Montana, Legislative Session of 2021". Montana State Legislature. Montana Legislative Services Division. p. 12. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  2. "Sen. Duane Ankney". leg.mt.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  3. "Duane Ankney's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  4. Larson, Seaborn. "Storied Montana lawmaker, coal miner, organizer from Colstrip dies at 79". Billing's Gazette. Billings Gazette. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  5. 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.
  6. "Montana lawmakers ask Washington state for time on Colstrip". The Billings Gazette. Associated Press. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
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