Act Now: Save Rooftop Solar in Montana

Investing in rooftop solar is one way that families in Montana can take action on their own to promote a clean energy economy. Yet the Montana legislature is trying to stop rooftop solar in our state. 

Families (and ranchers, schools, businesses, fire stations and others) that install rooftop solar get compensated for the electricity their panels produce through net metering. This Friday, there is a hearing on House Bill 359 that will reduce the net metering credits, that Montana families and businesses receive for electricity they generate, by 50-70%. There is no "grandfather clause" to exclude current rooftop solar and net-metering customers from this reduction in credits. 

Introduced by Montana state representative Larry Brewster, who is a former Northwest Energy employee, HB 359 is bad for Montanans and our economy. 

The result if HB 359 passes? It will effectively end the economic benefit that Montanans get for producing their own electricity. In 2019, the Montana Public Service Commission unanimously rejected a similar request by Northwestern to reduce the credit value of rooftop solar. 

Don't let Northwestern Energy kill solar in Montana by taking money away from Montana families and businesses! 

3 Ways to Take Action

The hearing for HB 359 is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19 at 3:00 pm.

1. Before Friday's hearing, contact the House Energy, Technology, and Federal Relations Committee and tell them to vote NO on HB 359. To contact them, you can either call the capitol switchboard at (406) 444-4800 and leave a message for the committee, or click this link to send the committee a message saying that you OPPOSE HB 359. 

2. You can also register to testify in the hearing, but you must do so before noon on Thursday, Feb. 18. 

3. Please also consider writing a letter to the editor opposing this bill.(LTEs are usually limited to 200 words.) 

Read more about the bill on MREA's website.

Thank you!