We cannot be quiet. Time to amplify our voices!
The 2019 Montana Legislative session has wrapped up. Click HERE for a recap of energy & climate issues
and THANK YOU for speaking up.
and THANK YOU for speaking up.
May 2019: We're following current issues related to clean energy and our utility - more details below.
And keep scrolling for more ongoing opportunities for advocacy and engagement in public planning processes.
- NEW - NorthWestern Energy's Rate Case and Resource Procurement Plan - comment TODAY
- 100% Clean Electricity for Missoula - joint resolution adopted!
- Cryptocurrency - new zoning regulations passed!
And keep scrolling for more ongoing opportunities for advocacy and engagement in public planning processes.
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1. Clean Energy + NorthWestern Energy
It can be a little confusing - there are two separate processes happening now related to NorthWestern Energy, Missoula's main energy utility. Read on for details & what you can do. NorthWestern Energy Rate Case NWE has filed a rate case with the Public Service Commission, the process by which a utility requests changes to the rate structures for their various types of energy customers. The rate case is complex and has many elements - but we're especially concerned with proposed changes to rates for net metered (grid-connected) solar users. Simply put, if approved these changes would make residential solar financially unfeasible for most people and likely put local solar installers out of business. Some more background and info:
Resource Procurement Plan NorthWestern Energy recently released their draft 2019 resource plan, a document that is intended to guide the utility's planning and procurement of energy over the next 20 years. Unfortunately, the draft plan doesn't consider a scenario incorporating renewable energy or energy efficiency to meet long-term energy demand; instead it models only future options that replace current coal generation with natural gas. The public comment period closed on May 5th. The final plan, due by the end of 2019, is required to take public comments into account. Thanks to all who submitted comments! Some more background & info:
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Take action regarding NorthWestern Energy's Rate Case: The Public Service Commission will hold a public meeting regarding NorthWestern Energy's Rate Case in Helena. May 14, 6:30pm in the Bollinger Room located in the PSC’s offices at 1701 Prospect Avenue, Helena. More public meeting times may be scheduled - stay tuned. The Commission also invites the public to submit written public comments on the matter to the Commission at P.O. Box 202601, Helena, MT 59620-2601, or through its web-based comment form at http://psc.mt.gov (“Comment on a Proceeding” under the “Documents & Proceedings” tab) by referencing Docket No. D2018.2.12. |
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Some more context and what's already happened:
On January 18th the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) & the state legislature's House and Senate energy committees held a joint hearing about Montana's energy future, specifically NorthWestern Energy's (NWE) latest long-term resource plan, a document that guides how to meet the utility's energy needs over the next 20 years. Clean energy advocates - including over 30 from Missoula - testified to the importance of including clean and renewable energy in NWE's plan. Abby, her husband Eric and baby Soren were there; Eric read a letter co-signed by 100 faith leaders from across Montana in support of clean energy. Read the recap from the Missoula Current or Helena IR - or listen to the hearing here. |
Photo credit: Tim Spangler
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2. 100% Clean Electricity for Missoula
UPDATE 4/8: 100% Clean Electricity Joint Resolution has been adopted by both City and County!!!
We're thrilled! The resolution was adopted by the County Commissioners on April 3 and City Council on April 8. See more coverage on our In the News page.
Background: since we released our draft 100% Clean Electricity Options Report last year (the latest and greatest version is HERE), we've been working with the City, County, and an ad hoc group of partners to keep this effort moving forward and draft a joint resolution to adopt the goal of 100% clean electricity for the Missoula community by 2030!
Thank you to all who showed your support and made this happen, by coming to the meetings, signing the open letter (nearly 500 signatories!) and spreading the word. This was a team effort and we are so proud of our community.
UPDATE 4/8: 100% Clean Electricity Joint Resolution has been adopted by both City and County!!!
We're thrilled! The resolution was adopted by the County Commissioners on April 3 and City Council on April 8. See more coverage on our In the News page.
Background: since we released our draft 100% Clean Electricity Options Report last year (the latest and greatest version is HERE), we've been working with the City, County, and an ad hoc group of partners to keep this effort moving forward and draft a joint resolution to adopt the goal of 100% clean electricity for the Missoula community by 2030!
Thank you to all who showed your support and made this happen, by coming to the meetings, signing the open letter (nearly 500 signatories!) and spreading the word. This was a team effort and we are so proud of our community.
3. Cryptocurrency
UPDATE April 4: County Commissioners adopt emergency interim zoning regulations for cryptocurrency operations! Following an evaluation process and two public hearings in 2018, the Missoula Board of County Commissioners (BCC) adopted interim zoning regulations that would place requirements on the energy-intensive cryptocurrency industry (such as bitcoin) in our county, including requiring facilities to offset their energy use with NEW renewable energy sources. Read the Commissioners' perspective HERE. Thank you again to all who shared their comments on this issue.
THE LOW-DOWN ON CRYPTOCURRENCY...
These 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. The main reasons the County is concerned are 1) greenhouse gas emissions, 2) noise, and 3) electronic waste. 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 - or simply using vast amounts of existing clean energy, forcing other would-be consumers of that clean energy to other not so clean sources. These issues will worsen if more facilities flood in.
In 2018 the Missoula Board of County Commissioners (BCC) initiated a process to evaluate cryptocurrency impacts and possible ways to address them. As part of this, there was an initial public hearing in June (see articles in the Missoula Current, Missoulian, and Independent) and a second hearing in September (here's a recap in the Missoulian). Head to the County's WEB PAGE for more.
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.
UPDATE April 4: County Commissioners adopt emergency interim zoning regulations for cryptocurrency operations! Following an evaluation process and two public hearings in 2018, the Missoula Board of County Commissioners (BCC) adopted interim zoning regulations that would place requirements on the energy-intensive cryptocurrency industry (such as bitcoin) in our county, including requiring facilities to offset their energy use with NEW renewable energy sources. Read the Commissioners' perspective HERE. Thank you again to all who shared their comments on this issue.
THE LOW-DOWN ON CRYPTOCURRENCY...
These 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. The main reasons the County is concerned are 1) greenhouse gas emissions, 2) noise, and 3) electronic waste. 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 - or simply using vast amounts of existing clean energy, forcing other would-be consumers of that clean energy to other not so clean sources. These issues will worsen if more facilities flood in.
In 2018 the Missoula Board of County Commissioners (BCC) initiated a process to evaluate cryptocurrency impacts and possible ways to address them. As part of this, there was an initial public hearing in June (see articles in the Missoula Current, Missoulian, and Independent) and a second hearing in September (here's a recap in the Missoulian). Head to the County's WEB PAGE for more.
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.
Ongoing: Comment on Missoula's Downtown Master Plan: Green buildings & Bike + Pedestrian Friendly Streets
Comments are still being accepted! The Master Planning process directs how our Downtown moves forward - from just north of the tracks through the Hip Strip, from UM to Russell Street. We need to offer innovative (and obvious!) ideas to build a downtown of the future, given climate change. PLEASE DO COMMENT. Here's the scoop, followed by ideas from MIST: Missoula's Institute for Sustainable Transportation.
January was filled with charettes, meetings and public input. Climate Smart was there, via the Transportation working group and by bringing green building and sustainability ideas to the fore. In fact we even got this slide in the final Friday community presentation!
We're supportive of general comments that we move away from a car-centric Missoula downtown. Yes, some parking is appropriate. But the downtown of the future fully integrates active transportation.
You can offer your thoughts via this INTERACTIVE ONLINE PLATFORM.
MIST's Proposal for safe, accessible streets in Downtown Missoula:
A 3-lane Higgins and Broadway. See details below from MIST:
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 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.
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 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
People's Climate March and RallyWe 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 HelenaThanks for Rallying back in 2017
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Stay in touch for upcoming events...See our calendar and join our mailing list to stay up to date on advocacy opportunities.
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There are lots of ways to advocate for a healthy climate...
It's always a good time to speak out for climate solutions. You 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 about how you would like to see Montana take action, or speak to your friends, neighbors, and local representatives.
Here are some ideas re: talking to others about Climate Change:
Because the best tonic for despair is action. |
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