The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has opened public discussion to review and “modernize” the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). This move to publicly review MEPA is an attempt to avoid complying with the Held v. State of Montana decision, which upholds the state’s right (and obligation) to consider climate change impacts when issuing permits. Now is the time to speak up and show the DEQ that the MEPA process MUST continue to include climate change considerations. Read on for details, talking points, and to find out how you can take action.

Montanans want an energy plan that protects our pocketbooks, families, and futures. It is long past time for NorthWestern Energy to acknowledge that, and to follow through on their promise to “deliver a bright future” by transitioning to clean and affordable energy NOW.

Today (August 28) is the FINAL DAY to submit comments to the Public Service Commission on NorthWestern Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan! Send your written comment to pschelp@mt.gov and include “Regarding docket 2022.11.102” in the subject line.

In a first-of-its-kind ruling, Judge Kathy Seeley in the First Judicial District Court of Montana ruled wholly in favor of the youth plaintiffs in the landmark climate lawsuit, Held v. State of Montana. Our Montana youth WON!

Read details about the decision, watch a recap of our public celebration of the ruling, and learn about ways to stay engaged.

The U.S. EPA is proposing a new set of standards that strongly curtail carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. Comment by August 8 and tell the EPA to support these new power plant standards that will combat climate change, improve public health, and protect our environment. Find details and instructions here.

Montana’s Public Service Commission is accepting public comments and holding public hearings on NorthWestern Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan throughout the state this August. This plan will determine how energy is produced for the majority of our municipalities over the next 20-30 years, so it is hugely important that we raise our voices and demand clean and affordable energy NOW! Read on to find out how you can take action.

A reflection and call to action from our Executive Director

In Montana, despite my perception of a mild summer, we’re already experiencing big trouble: record lows in Flathead Lake’s water level, fishing restrictions on important rivers, and according to the Daily Montanan, “a high-pressure ridge is expected to push temperatures into the 90s and near 100 degrees this weekend into early next week in western Montana – about 15 degrees above normal.”

After listening to the poem “Dandelion is the New Guru” by Lisa Bellamy and rereading a DearTomorrow letter I had written to my daughter in 2021 for her to read 2050, my heart broke wide open as I was reminded that there is no giving up, because that would mean giving up on my child and her future.

In our first ever youth writing contest this past winter, we invited Montanans 18 years old and under to envision what our communities will look like and how they've responded to climate change in the year 2070. Here we present to you the entire collection of responses from the contest. Read their words, hear their voices, listen to them.

Billings Climate week, a week before the launch of the historic Held v State of Montana youth-led climate lawsuit, brought Dr. Steve Running to Billings to share his expensive knowledge about climate system changes for a weeklong climate action extravaganza!

On June 2, 2023, plaintiffs and an attorney from the historic Held v. State of Montana youth-led climate lawsuit joined this live virtual conversation to answer questions and share their experiences with peers and supporters across the state. It was a great opportunity to hear directly from plaintiffs about what it's been like to participate in the FIRST youth-led and the FIRST constitutional climate lawsuit to go to trial in the nation! Listen to the full discussion here.