colstrip

NorthWestern is asking regulators to sign off on their plans for the newly acquired power, but some opponents are claiming the deals haven’t gotten the oversight they should.

NorthWestern Energy, the state’s largest public utility, is asking regulators to allow it to temporarily tap a credit for customers to help pay for an additional $18 million associated with buying more of the Colstrip plant.

Michael Hoyt writes, "Northwestern Energy is not ready or preparing for the inevitable shift to renewable power production. Instead, the company is in denial and continuing to invest in an old technology that contributes to global warming."

Fred Thomas writes, "Labeling Colstrip “the dirtiest coal plant in the nation” is both inflammatory and inaccurate."

Peter Burns writes, "The utility's actions dictate its reputation, and its current actions regarding public health air quality protections are reprehensible."

Attorneys say upgrading plant would cost $350M, while closing it will destabilize power grid, raise consumer costs.

Officials with the power company have argued repeatedly that they’ve had to raise residential power rates because those rates have been subsidized by larger industrial and commercial carriers.

NorthWestern Energy argues that Montana needs the reliable baseload power that Colstrip provides to meet growing demand, supplemented by growing wind and solar energy on the grid.