energy

Sarah Lundquist & Winona Bateman write, "Montanans are ready and the time is now for a just transition to clean energy."

An effort by Democratic lawmakers to beef up Colorado’s approach to combating climate change is getting a cool reception from Gov. Jared Polis’ administration and industry groups.

The Bigfork School District has approved the purchase of a new electric school bus thanks to a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Missoula County is asking the Legislature not to prohibit local governments from zoning some subdivisions for solar and electrical vehicle readiness.

Reps. Katie Sullivan and Derek Harvey write, "House Bill 170 would give the Governor the power to do whatever he wants. Repealing Montanan's energy policy is a terrible idea and will have negative consequences for years."

Citing a need for reliable power, NorthWestern Energy on Monday night announced an agreement to secure ownership of Colstrip Units 3 and 4 while the owner, Avista, retains the responsibility of decommissioning and cleaning the plant when it eventually shutters.

Citing a need to secure a domestic supply of lithium for electric car batteries, the Biden Administration has pledged $700 million for a planned lithium mine on the habitat of an endangered Nevada wildflower.

Montana Public Service Commissioners voted 4-1 on the hire of former Republican lawmaker Brad Tschida, according to the PSC staff attorney. Chief Legal Counsel Lucas Hamilton said the holdout was President Jim Brown. The all-Republican commission regulates monopoly utilities in Montana, and after a problematic audit released spring 2021, it reorganized to hire an executive director. The first director stayed just one year and left summer 2022. Brown declined to comment on the reason he voted against Tschida. A news release that announced the hire had laudatory statements from the vice president and another commissioner, but no word from Brown. In a brief phone call this week, Brown declined comment. However, he volunteered confirmation that he was the “no” vote. “The information provided by Mr. Hamilton is correct,” Brown said. Last year, with encouragement from Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, Brown ran a race for Montana Supreme Court justice, but he lost to the incumbent Ingrid Gustafson. Tschida, who served four terms in the Montana Legislature before losing a race in 2022, has recently been a controversial figure. He alleged wrongdoing by the Missoula County Elections Office, but the local Republicans said a review found the elections were secure. Political analyst Lee Banville said sometimes, people cast votes to send a message, such as a split decision by an all-Republican board. “It seems to me that Jim Brown is sending a message,” said Banville, with the University of Montana. “What’s complicated is I don’t think we all can translate what he’s saying.” Hamilton said the human resources office told him 10 people applied for the executive director position in the times it was posted between summer and December.

Whitney Tawney writes, "Thankfully the Governor’s proposed budget is not final and we’ll be working with you, our partners and the legislature to stand with Montana voters and restore the Montana Outdoor Fund in the final budget."

Ken Toole writes, "Most of us realize that our economy is far more complex than simple free-market capitalism. It is baffling that big business is now viewed as more virtuous than our public institutions."