Colstrip – Former Montana State Senator Duane Ankney, a well-known figure in state politics and a fierce advocate for Colstrip’s future, has died. He was 79.
Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced Ankney’s passing in a post on Facebook.
Ankney, a former coal miner, became best known for his fight to keep the Colstrip Power Plant open. He often described Colstrip as the “heartbeat of Eastern Montana” and made energy independence a cornerstone of his work in the community.
He served more than a decade in the Montana Legislature during the 2000s, leaving a legacy of outspoken support for Montana’s energy industry and the people of his hometown.
