Down to Earth Archives - Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC https://meic.org/tag/down-to-earth/ Clean and healthful. It's your right, our mission. Fri, 26 Sep 2025 20:36:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://meic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/cropped-MEIC_whitesmall-32x32.png Down to Earth Archives - Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC https://meic.org/tag/down-to-earth/ 32 32 A Victory for Montana’s Sunshine Laws https://meic.org/a-victory-for-montanas-sunshine-laws/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:23:07 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39450 by Derf Johnson MEIC exists on the edge of government and its operations. If you boil down our day-to-day work, a substantial portion is the pick-and-shovel work of document review in order to hold the government accountable. It requires regular communication with government officials, accessing and reviewing enormous volumes of documents, attending meetings, and lobbying …

The post A Victory for Montana’s Sunshine Laws appeared first on Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC.

]]> Bull Mountain Coal Mine Gets Sweetheart Deal from Feds https://meic.org/bull-mountain-coal-mine-gets-sweetheart-deal-from-feds/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:20:50 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39452 by Derf Johnson The new federal government, led by Pres. Donald Trump — as well as Montana’s congressional delegation — is hell-bent on doing everything it can to prop up fossil fuels and undermine the clean energy transition. Pres. Trump’s Executive Orders were issued fast and furious in his first months in office, a slew …

The post Bull Mountain Coal Mine Gets Sweetheart Deal from Feds appeared first on Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC.

]]> Massive Rosebud Coal Mine Expansion Receives Expedited Approval https://meic.org/massive-rosebud-coal-mine-expansion-receives-expedited-approval/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:19:12 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39456 by Katy Spence  When it rains, it pours, and the federal government is opening the skies. On the eve of our Down to Earth deadline, with every article planned and penned and half the staff out for a summer break, the Department of Interior announced its release of an updated environmental review and approval of …

The post Massive Rosebud Coal Mine Expansion Receives Expedited Approval appeared first on Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC.

]]> Montana Congressional Delegation’s Public Lands Bait-and-Switch https://meic.org/montana-congressional-delegations-public-lands-bait-and-switch/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:18:51 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39458 by Anne Hedges  This article was published as an op-ed in Montana papers.  You can’t take your bird dog hunting on lands being mined or filled with oil rigs, even if they are “public” lands.  While Montanans were right to celebrate removing the sale of public lands from the recent Congressional budget bill, some may …

The post Montana Congressional Delegation’s Public Lands Bait-and-Switch appeared first on Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC.

]]> Derf Johnson, Rob Farris-Olsen, and Kim Wilson Receive Award https://meic.org/derf-johnson-rob-farris-olsen-and-kim-wilson-receive-award/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:17:28 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39463 by Katy Spence  In early August, MEIC Deputy Director Derf Johnson was awarded the Montana Trial Lawyers Association’s (MTLA) Appellate Advocacy Award alongside MEIC board member Rob Farris-Olsen and former board member Kim Wilson for Outstanding Appellate Advocacy. This award recognizes their work on MEIC v. Office of the Governor for the State of Montana, …

The post Derf Johnson, Rob Farris-Olsen, and Kim Wilson Receive Award appeared first on Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC.

]]> MEIC Takes Trump to Court over Air Toxins at Colstrip https://meic.org/meic-takes-trump-to-court-over-air-toxins-at-colstrip/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:16:19 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39472 by Anne Hedges  On June 12, MEIC joined a dozen other organizations and sued Pres. Donald Trump and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In an executive proclamation, Pres. Trump allowed power plants like the one in Colstrip to ignore public health regulations that limit toxic air pollution such as mercury, lead, and arsenic from …

The post MEIC Takes Trump to Court over Air Toxins at Colstrip appeared first on Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC.

]]> A Big, Ugly Setback for Clean Energy https://meic.org/a-big-ugly-setback-for-clean-energy/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:15:15 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39477 by Shannon James The Trump Administration is once again putting fossil fuel profits ahead of people, public health, and the planet. Its latest effort, misleadingly called the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” was a sweeping attack on the clean energy transition: slashing vital tax credits, gutting environmental safeguards, and inserting roadblocks that could stall or kill …

The post A Big, Ugly Setback for Clean Energy appeared first on Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC.

]]> 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 …

The post DEQ Thumbs Nose at Montana Constitution, Approves Gas Plant appeared first on Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC.

]]> 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, …

The post NWE Denies Climate Risks, Hides True Bill Impact of Proposed Rate Increase appeared first on Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC.

]]> The “Nuclear Renaissance” is Built on False Promises and Growing Risks https://meic.org/the-nuclear-renaissance-is-built-on-false-promises-and-growing-risks/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:10:50 +0000 https://meic.org/?p=39500 by Shannon James  Over the past year, the federal government has doubled-down on nuclear energy, initiating policies meant to fast-track “advanced” reactor deployment and prop up the domestic nuclear industry. Supporters call it a “nuclear renaissance,” but let’s be clear: this is not a beacon of progress. It’s a high-risk, high-cost gamble that threatens public …

The post The “Nuclear Renaissance” is Built on False Promises and Growing Risks appeared first on Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC.

]]>