We cannot be quiet. Time to amplify our voices!

January 2019. There are three issues highlighted. Scroll down for:
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  1. Friday, Jan 18.  Please attend Helena Public Hearing - Clean Energy and NorthWestern Energy - at the Montana Legislature
  2. Missoula's Downtown Master Plan and Transportation - get involved this week.
  3. Crypotcurrency​ - it's on our radar
The 2019 Montana Legislature is up and running. We're tracking energy and climate issues, and we'll work to get the word out when there are bills up to support and things like solar energy to defend.

We recommend you get timely info from the Montana Renewable Energy Association. Check out Andrew's  Jan 14 blog post  and sign up for  get on MREA's email list. 
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1. Public Hearing - Clean Energy + NorthWestern Energy at the Montana Legislature,  January 18
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From our friends at MEIC - the Montana Environmental Information Center:
On Friday, January 18th the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) and the state legislature's House and Senate energy committees are holding a hearing about Montana's energy future and YOUR voice is needed! The hearing concerns NorthWestern Energy's (NWE) latest long-term resource plan, a document that helps guide the utility and regulators when deciding how to meet the utility's energy needs over the next 20 years. NWE's previous resource plan did not include any new wind nor solar energy - it only called for a fleet of new fossil fuel gas plants. There is concern the new plan will propose the same path.

Please tell this important audience that we want more low-cost renewable energy, not expensive and risky fossil fuel gas plants!
  • What: Public Hearing on NWE's Resource Procurement Plan. Hosted by Montana PSC and Legislative House/Senate Energy Committees
  • When: January 18th, 9 a.m. - noon
  • Where: Montana State Capitol Building, Old Supreme Court Chambers, 1301 E. 6th Ave. Helena, Montana

Carpooling available from Missoula. For information on carpooling contact David Merrill at david.merrill@sierraclub.org or (406) 549-1142.
For any other info or questions please contact  MEIC's Brian Fadie - bfadie@meic.org, (406) 443-2520.

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2. Comment on Missoula's Downtown Master Plan - Bike- and Pedestrian Friendly Streets
January 2019. Here's the basic scoop, followed by ideas from MIST: Missoula's Institute for Sustainable Transportation

Make your voice heard in the Downtown Master Plan - opportunities for participation on January 14-18th (see Missoula Downtown Master Plan Public Workshop). Help create the future of downtown Missoula: learn about town planning & community revitalization and provide your input and voice towards a sustainable downtown.
  • Jan 14 Kickoff:  5-7 pm or 7-9 pm, Doubletree Hotel.
  • Jan 15-17 Open Design Studio: anytime between 10 am-7 pm, Public House. 
  • Jan 18 Work In Progress Wrap-up Presentation: 4-6 pm, The Wilma.

We're supportive of general comments that request we do not create a car-centric Missoula downtown. Yes, some parking is appropriate. But the downtown of the future fully integrates sustainable transportation. 
Can't make it to comment in person? Do share your thoughts via this ONLINE FORM.

MIST's Proposal for safe and accessible streets in Downtown Missoula:
A 3-lane Higgins and a 3-lane Broadway. See details below from our friends at the Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation:

Missoula values safe and accessible streets, active transportation and a healthy community. Higgins and Broadway through downtown seem to go against these values: too many people crashes and people injured, disappearing bikeways and blocked car flow. We can fix these challenges by changing both streets to three lanes instead of four. Changing a 4-lane street (2 lanes in each direction) to a 3-lane street (one lane in each direction with a center turn lane) removes the double threat hazard to pedestrians, gives space to create bikeways, improves access to transit and generally improves overall car flow (inner lane of a 4-lane is blocked by left turning drivers).

Missoula has completed two successful 4 lane to 3 lane conversions: W. Broadway in 2005 (from California to Orange) and N. Higgins in 2010 (from Broadway to the XXXX's). The greatest benefit has been safer and more accessible pedestrian crossings, helping to end a string of fatalities on W. Broadway (5 in 7 years). We now have an opportunity to extend the Higgins and Broadway 3-lane sections through downtown. The Downtown Master Plan is being updated, and your voice matters. Comment here, attend the public workshops (see above).

The Riverfront Neighborhood Council voted 34-0 in support of a 3-lane Higgins. The City of Missoula states, "City Public Works supports the extension of a 3-lane Broadway from Orange to Madison Street and 3-lane Higgins from S. 5th Street to Railroad Street", and changing these streets to 3-lanes is supported by policy such as Complete Streets, the 2016 Long Range Transportation Plan, and the Our Missoula Growth Policy.

More design options for the downtown plan:  river trail connections, pedestrian plazas, permeable paving, modern roundabouts, protected intersections, alley improvements for walking and biking, passenger rail, bike share and car share.

Video on 4 to 3 lane conversions here. Proposal contact: Bob Giordano, Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation, mist@strans.org


3. Cryptocurrency 

This information is from fall 2018 but as of early 2019, this issue is coming back around. Stay tuned.  
We're not giving up on the need to do something about cryptocurrency. Here's the Missoulian article on what happened at the September meeting. More soon!

September 27, 2018. The Missoula Board of County Commissioners (BCC) is seeking public input on a proposed one year moratorium for expansion of the energy-intensive cryptocurrency industry (such as bitcoin) in our county. A second public hearing was held 9-27.  Keep reading or head to the County's WEB PAGE and submit public comments. These are still being accepted in 2019. There's even a video of the entire hearing if you're so inclined. Scroll down for links to articles about the first public meeting (June 2018). 

WHAT: Cryptocurrency operations, which consume heaps and heaps of energy, are looking to Missoula County in order to exploit our relatively cool climate and low-cost electricity.  These facilities can disrupt neighborhoods with their noisy operations, increase electricity rates due to costly infrastructure upgrades, and set back efforts to mitigate climate change by consuming obscene amounts of dirty fossil fuel energy. These issues will worsen if more facilities flood in.  The Missoula Board of County Commissioners is considering placing a one-year moratorium on new Bitcoin facilities wishing to locate in the county until the ramifications of this precarious industry can be fully understood and problems addressed.
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Here are five reasons the County is concerned:  1. noise 2.  greenhouse gas emissions 3. electrical grid reliability and safety 4.  fire 5. e-waste.

​Please submit comment on the county’s website here as soon as you can. And thanks for ALL who have already commented. 

Here are 3 media reports from the June 14 public BCC meeting 
For more about cryptocurrency and Bitcoin, including what they are and the climate change problems they create, see these two articles.  The County's web page also links to numerous articles and even YouTube videos about block chain!
It's always a good time to speak out for climate solutions.  We can write letters to the editor, get involved in election campaigns for those who support climate science and action, send an email to the Governor of how you would like to see Montana take action, or speak to your friends, neighbors, and local representatives. 

People's Climate March and Rally 

We had great turn out for BOTH People's Climate March and Rallies - April 2017 and Sept. 2018. Thank you!!
​Head here for media and more. 

Solar Jobs Rally in Helena

Thanks for Rallying back in 2017

Stay in touch for upcoming events...

See our calendar and join our mailing list to stay up to date on advocacy opportunities. 

There are lots of ways to advocate for a healthy climate...

  • Write a letter to the editor - these are read by elected officials.
  • Share your climate concerns and stories with us - email to get started.
  • ​Create and share ART that speaks to a resilient community.. Remember eARTh without art is just eh....
  • Hug your kids and neighbors, and smile at strangers.

​Here are some ideas re: talking to others about Climate Change:​
​Because the best tonic for despair is action.