energy

Labor leaders testified Monday against a petition the Montana Public Service Commission adopt a rule requiring consideration of climate change effects on health and the environment.

The push to create and adopt a green power program was memorialized with NorthWestern Energy in 2020, and the effort has advanced each year since.

Colorado lawmakers on Wednesday hailed the announcement by federal officials that 220,000 acres of national forest land on Colorado’s Western Slope will be protected from oil and gas development and mining for at least the next 20 years.

Hydropower generated for electricity from Oregon and Washington dams fell to historically low levels last year, and experts expect it could drop further by year’s end.

Gov. Jay Inslee signed the bill to hasten Puget Sound Energy’s shift from natural gas to clean energy. Critics contend it will lead to higher energy bills for ratepayers.

Nick Fitzmaurice writes, "All the pieces are available for NorthWestern Energy to plan for and execute a cleaner, more affordable energy system that doesn’t punish ratepayers. Montanans can’t afford to wait any longer."

Richard Dunbar writes, "Those criticizing NorthWestern should take a closer look at the reason they are being forced into buying power on the open market in the first place, and give credit where credit is due—because at the end of the day, the critics of NorthWestern’s all-of-the-above energy strategy are the ones directly responsible for everyone paying more for power."

The Montana Public Service Commission should consider climate change in its regulation of gas and electric utilities, according to a petition submitted Wednesday to the regulatory agency.

NorthWestern Energy customers have paid $200 million more than they should have since 2005 because the utility’s advanced purchases of gas and electricity ended up higher than prices on the market.

Dave Atkins writes, "The BBER seminar missed highlighting economic policies that can drive the green energy transition..."