Montana could produce a huge amount of clean, renewable energy to power our future, create jobs, reduce energy costs, and do our part to eliminate carbon pollution. But, Montana’s monopoly energy company, NorthWestern Energy (NWE), is planning to burn more fossil fuels instead, and raise our prices.
The Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) needs to hear from Montana families that we want them to protect our pocketbooks, families, and futures, by asking NorthWestern Energy to make a meaningful plan to transition to clean, renewable energy.
The company released its new Integrated Resource Plan (IRP; formerly known as the Resource Procurement Plan) this year. This plan is intended to disclose how NWE will meet the energy needs of its customers over the next 20 years, including how our energy will be produced. Our friends at MEIC have analyzed the plan and conclude that:
“this IRP would result in an electricity system that is unaffordable, unreliable, and ignores the climate crisis. It seems to be more focused on securing increased revenue for NorthWestern’s shareholders than providing affordable and reliable power for Montanans.”
With the help of our good friends at MEIC, we made a video explaining what the IRP is and how to submit comments and share testimony (you can also find the video on the IRP Action Alert page on our website).
Please help us spread the word about the IRP and the upcoming hearings by sharing the video and encouraging your friends, family, and neighbors to participate! For folks who are limited on time, MEIC has made it really easy to submit comments through their website. We also hope to pack the rooms during the IRP hearings - dates below:
Great Falls: August 14, 6:00 p.m., Commission Chambers in the Civic Center, located at 2 Park Drive South.
Helena: August 15, 12 p.m., Montana Public Service Commission, Bollinger Room, 1701 Prospect Avenue.
Billings: August 16, 6:00 p.m., Board of Oil & Gas Conservation, 2535 St. Johns Ave.
Butte: August 17, 6:00 p.m., Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives, 17 W. Quartz.
Missoula: August 22, 6:00 p.m., Missoula College Learning Center (river campus), 1205 E. Broadway Ave., Room 304.
If you can't make it to the hearings in person, you can participate via Zoom. Contact the PSC at 1-800-646-6150 or pschelp@mt.gov by 5:00 p.m. on the day before you intend to provide comment to receive a personalized Zoom link for the hearing.