northwestern energy Archives - Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC https://meic.org/tag/northwestern-energy/ Clean and healthful. It's your right, our mission. Tue, 30 Sep 2025 17:10:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://meic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/cropped-MEIC_whitesmall-32x32.png northwestern energy Archives - Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC https://meic.org/tag/northwestern-energy/ 32 32 Press Release: Groups challenge Montana’s second rubberstamp of methane gas plant near Laurel https://meic.org/groups-challenge-montanas-second-rubberstamp-of-methane-gas-plant-near-laurel/ Mon, 29 Sep 2025 19:42:17 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39573 The Department of Environmental Quality failed to adequately evaluate climate impacts for a second time, despite an order from the Montana Supreme Court   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 29, 2025 CONTACTS Meridian Wappett, Western Environmental Law Center, 208-596-9870, wappett@westernlaw.org Perry Wheeler, Earthjustice, pwheeler@earthjustice.org Anne Hedges, Montana Environmental Information Center, 406-461-9546, ahedges@meic.org   Conservation groups today …

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]]> As Utility Rates Skyrocket, So Do NorthWestern CEO Paychecks https://meic.org/as-utility-rates-skyrocket-so-do-northwestern-ceo-paychecks/ Thu, 11 Sep 2025 22:59:24 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39351 By Nick Fitzmaurice In July 2024, NorthWestern Energy filed an application with the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) to increase residential electricity base rates by 26%. This came on the heels of a decision by the PSC in October 2023 to approve a 28% increase to NorthWestern’s residential electric customers. The PSC now has until …

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]]> DEQ Thumbs Nose at Montana Constitution, Approves Gas Plant https://meic.org/deq-thumbs-nose-at-montana-constitution-approves-gas-plant/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:14:08 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39480 by Anne Hedges  The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) thumbed its nose at the Montana Supreme Court, the people of Montana, future generations, and our Constitutional Right to a Clean and Healthful Environment when it released its draft and final environmental analyses for NorthWestern Energy’s gas plant near Laurel.  In early January, the Montana …

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]]> NWE Denies Climate Risks, Hides True Bill Impact of Proposed Rate Increase https://meic.org/nwe-denies-climate-risks-hides-true-bill-impact-of-proposed-rate-increase/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:12:22 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39483 by Nick Fitzmaurice  NorthWestern Energy’s rate case is in its final months after an intensive eight-day hearing at the Public Service Commission (PSC) concluded on June 18. With post-hearing briefs from NorthWestern and intervening parties filed in July and August, the PSC will make a final decision this fall on whether, and by how much, …

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]]> New Data Centers Threaten to Increase Montanans’ Electricity Costs https://meic.org/new-data-centers-threaten-to-increase-montanans-electricity-costs/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:09:21 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39508 by Ben Catton  Data center investors are making plans to come to Montana soon. As in “as soon as possible.” While NorthWestern Energy doesn’t have a clear plan for supplying the vast amount of power it will need, it’s becoming clear who it expects to pay for the generation and grid infrastructure to serve these …

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]]> It’s Coming: NorthWestern’s Next 20-Year Plan https://meic.org/its-coming-northwesterns-next-20-year-plan/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:03:34 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39529 by Nick Fitzmaurice  NorthWestern Energy is currently developing its 2026 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). Under Montana law, regulated monopoly utilities such as NorthWestern Energy must prepare and submit to the Public Service Commission (PSC) an IRP every three years. These plans detail how utilities plan to supply reliable and affordable electricity to their customers over …

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]]> Press Release: Montana DEQ releases sparse environmental assessment for NorthWestern Energy’s methane gas plant https://meic.org/press-release-montana-deq-releases-sparse-environmental-assessment-for-northwestern-energys-methane-gas-plant/ Mon, 04 Aug 2025 18:58:36 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39108 DEQ’s court-order analysis includes one sentence about climate impacts of fossil fuel plant FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 4, 2025 MEDIA CONTACTS Jenny Harbine | Earthjustice | 406.586.9699 | jharbine@earthjustice.org Anne Hedges | MEIC | 406.443.2520 | ahedges@meic.org   MONTANA – The leadership of the Montana Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) wasted taxpayer dollars and ignored …

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]]> NorthWestern Energy Rate Case Costs that Should Not Be Charged to Customers https://meic.org/northwestern-energy-rate-case-costs-that-should-not-be-charged-to-customers/ Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:21:28 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=38997 NorthWestern Energy’s rate case is in its final months after the Public Service Commission (PSC) hearing concluded in June. The PSC will issue a final decision sometime this fall. MEIC intervened in the rate case and is represented by Earthjustice. We are advocating for reliability, affordability and consideration of the environment. (Other intervenors being represented …

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]]> How Investors Are Getting Rich Off Of This Montana Town https://meic.org/how-investors-are-getting-rich-off-of-this-montana-town/ Mon, 14 Jul 2025 15:45:57 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39133 This video by More Perfect Union, featuring MEIC’s Anne Hedges, exposes how for-profit utility companies, like NorthWestern Energy, invest in the most expensive energy resources in order to maximize corporate profits at the expense of bill-paying customers. ??   Watch it here.

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]]> DEQ Gets an “F” in Environmental Analysis for NorthWestern’s Gas Plant https://meic.org/deq-gets-an-f-in-environmental-analysis-for-northwesterns-gas-plant/ Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:17:02 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=38678 by Anne Hedges Just when you think the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) cannot get any worse, it does. The Montana Supreme Court ruled in January that DEQ must redo the environmental analysis for NorthWestern Energy’s Laurel Generating Station (sometimes referred to as the Yellowstone County Generating Station). The court ruled that DEQ must …

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