Podcasts about northwestern energy

Montanans could see their power bills spike this year, but by how much is still up for debate. Utility regulators Tuesday heard public comment on NorthWestern Energy's latest request to hike electricity rates. The hearings are scheduled to run through June 20.

The state's largest utility company is now charging customers 17 percent more for electricity. It made that price bump without the approval of state regulators. Montana Free Press' Amanda Eggert sat down with MTPR's Ellis Juhlin to talk about her reporting on the change.

With NorthWestern Energy President and CEO Brian Bird The post NorthWestern Energy: Rate Settlement, New Energy Policies first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Northwestern Energy is partnering with Grid United for a share of that company’s new high-voltage, east-west transmission line, in a deal that will help the energy company shore up concerns of inadequate generation. In fact, with that in place, NorthWestern […] The post NorthWestern Energy Partners w/ Grid United for More MT Megawatts first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Climate groups and members of the public are calling on a consumer advocacy group led by the Legislature to oppose increases to their power bills.

NorthWestern Energy customers will see lower electricity bills this month.

NorthWestern Energy customers get relief with lower bills, a Montana ski resort recognized for pollution prevention, and we fact check Monday's U. S. senate debate between the two top contenders for the job.

The state's largest utility explained to lawmakers this week why it wants to expand ownership of the Colstrip power plant. NorthWestern Energy plans to own more than half of Colstrip by 2026.

NorthWestern is the largest electric and gas utility in the state, and is asking to increase power bill rates by at least 8%.

Montana's largest electric and gas utility wants to charge customers more. NorthWestern Energy says the cost to generate power is increasing and that means bills need to go up, too. The decision is up to state regulators who, for the second time this month have found major holes in the company's request.

A candidate for Montana's U.S. Senate responds to a call out from Donald Trump during his Bozeman rally, NorthWestern Energy requests another raise for customers after getting one less than a year ago, and a recognition of the state's largest and deadliest earthquake takes place this weekend.

Montana's largest energy utility company is planning on getting bigger. NorthWestern Energy announced Tuesday it intends to buy Energy West Montana, a methane gas utility based in Great Falls.

Thousands of people in Missoula were still without power Friday afternoon after a powerful storm blasted through the area Wednesday night.NorthWestern Energy at noon Friday said they had more than 160 personnel and 34 line crews working to restore electricity as quickly as possible. The utility warned some outages might not be repaired until early next week.

MCPS Superintendent Micah Hill talked about cell phone bans, teacher pay, and more. Then we had the Chamber Hour with CEO Mark Losh and Todd Rahr from Northwestern Energy.

New EPA regulations targeted at Montana's Colstrip power plant have placed energy producers, distributors, and consumers on notice for the potential of higher energy costs and a limited energy supply. Brian Bird, President and CEO of NorthWestern Energy, joins the […] The post NWE Sends Strong Message About New EPA Regs Targeting Colstrip first appeared on Voices of Montana.

A candidate for U.S. senate drops out six days after entering the race, NorthWestern Energy looks at climate change and energy production, and we talk with two Montana chefs up for an Academy Award of the food world.

Montana has a long history of making money by extracting and exporting its natural resources, namely coal. State politicians and Montana's largest electricity utility company seem set on keeping it that way.  Reveal's Jonathan Jones travels to the town of Colstrip in the southeastern part of the state. It is home to one of the largest coal seams in the country – and one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the West. He learns that Montana's largest power company, NorthWestern Energy, has expanded its stake in the plant, even though it's the single biggest emitter of greenhouse gas in the state. Jones speaks with Colstrip's mayor about the importance of coal mining to the local community. He also speaks to local ranchers and a tribal official who've been working for generations to protect the water and land from coal development.   Jones follows the money to the state's capital, where lawmakers have passed some of the most extreme laws to keep the state from addressing climate change. He dives into lobbying records behind a flurry of bills that are keeping the state reliant on fossil fuels. He meets with one of the plaintiffs involved in a first-of-its-kind youth-led lawsuit. The group successfully sued Montana for violating their constitutional right to a “clean and healthful environment.” Jones also finds that NorthWestern is planning to build a new methane gas plant on the banks of the Yellowstone River, and the company is being met with resistance from people who live near the site.  Finally, Jones visits the state's largest wind farm and speaks with a renewable energy expert, who says Montana can close its coal plants, never build a new gas plant and transition to 100% clean energy while reducing electricity costs for consumers. Jones also speaks with NorthWestern's CEO and looks at other coal communities in transition.    This is an update of an episode that originally aired in June 2023. Support Reveal's journalism at Revealnews.org/donatenow Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get the scoop on new episodes at Revealnews.org/newsletter Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

A new mayor and an old marijuana law stand - we have results from municipal elections, an old drug making a new comeback in Montana, and a Northwestern Energy rate increase questioned.

Every three years Montana's largest electric utility tells the public how it's planning to meet energy demands, which is going on now. And it follows a major court ruling that found the state's energy policy is contributing to climate change. MTPR's Austin Amestoy sat down with reporter Ellis Juhlin to break down where NorthWestern's plan fits into the new legal landscape.

Every three years Montana's largest electric utility tells the public how it's planning to meet energy demands, which is going on now. And it follows a major court ruling that found the state's energy policy is contributing to climate change. MTPR's Austin Amestoy sat down with reporter Ellis Juhlin to break down where NorthWestern's plan fits into the new legal landscape.

Montana's utility regulators are gathering public input on the plans of the state's largest energy supplier to meet customer demands.

The Montana Public Service Commission is taking public input on a new 20-year plan from NorthWestern Energy to meet the state's energy needs. The PSC also recently approved a rate increase for customers of MDU. James Brown chairs the Public […] The post Montana's Energy Future first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Montana has a long history of making money by extracting and exporting its natural resources, namely coal. State politicians and Montana's largest electricity utility company seem set on keeping it that way.  Reveal's Jonathan Jones travels to the southeastern part of the state, to a town called Colstrip. It is home to one of the largest coal seams in the country – and one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the West. He finds the state's single largest power company, NorthWestern Energy, recently expanded its share in the Colstrip power plant and is planning to build a new methane gas plant on the banks of the Yellowstone River. Meanwhile, in the state capital of Helena, lawmakers have passed a flurry of bills to ensure the state's continued reliance on fossil fuels. NorthWestern supports many of these bills, including one of the most extreme laws to keep the state from addressing climate change. Jones follows the money behind the coal expansion in Montana and the local and statewide resistance efforts to push the state toward clean energy.  Support Reveal's journalism at Revealnews.org/donatenow Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get the scoop on new episodes at Revealnews.org/newsletter Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

We had open phones during the first few segments and then Monica Tranel joined us to discuss NorthWestern Energy's potential rate increases.

John Hines, NorthWestern Energy VP of Supply, discusses the newly released and updated Integrated Resource Plan that lays out a vision for energy needs and resources over the next 20 years. It shows some concerns for energy affordability and reliability. […]

Are resource and recreation two co-habitable industries? Northwestern Energy is partnering with the Missouri-Madison River Fund announcing nine public recreation improvement projects by grant and matching funds by the River Fund Trust and NorthWestern Energy. Guest is Kim McMahon with […]

Speaker Matt Regier (R-Kalispell) then John Hines with Northwestern Energy

Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about NorthWestern Energy buying more coal-fired generation, customers responding to time-of-use rates in California, PacifiCorp and Idaho Power converting a power plant from coal to natural gas, California slashing funding for decarbonization programs, and more.Read more about what's happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata's Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.

NorthWestern Energy has announced an agreement with Avista for the no-purchase price acquisition of Avista's share of Colstrip Units 3 and 4. It will put 222 megawatts of power production in NorthWestern's portfolio by 2026. NorthWestern Energy's Brian Bird, President […]

Energy Transition of the Human Kind at NWE Bob Rowe is marking the final days as the 14-year leader of NorthWestern Energy. The respected CEO retires at the end of the year, and colleague Brian Bird, who has been transitioning […]

On today's episode, we have stories about wildfire season perceptions, NorthWestern Energy and more.

Sleepy Hollow Oil & Gas owns and operates the natural gas system that serves roughly 150 customers in the Winifred, Hilger and Lewistown areas through NorthWestern Energy’s system. But the Ohio-based company is going through bankruptcy and there’s uncertainty about […]

The Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC) is proud to share our March issue with you in audio form! Catch up on the latest details of our work protecting Montana's air, water, land, and life-sustaining climate. Links from this issue:  MEIC Action Center: www.meic.org/action-center Read the online magazine: www.meic.org/down-to-earth How to Be an Advocate resources: www.meic.org/resources Become a member: www.meic.org/donate Fort Belknap Indian Community responds to Luke Ployhar's plans for mining at Zortman Landusky: https://dailymontanan.com/2022/02/14/fort-belknap-indian-community-responds-to-luke-ployhars-plans-for-mining-at-zortman-landusky/ Sign up for alerts from NorthWestern Energy on their website: www.northwesternenergy.com/about-us/gas-electric/electric-supply-resource-procurement-plan

Effective leadership and good communication are key to approaching resilience and the energy transition as electric companies navigate changes  Companies are undertaking actions to meet employee expectations on flexibility and customer expectations on reliability, affordability, and risks. What approaches are necessary to communicate with customers? How has the pandemic evolved the way companies are conducting business? And how are electric companies leading on resilience? Bob Rowe, CEO of NorthWestern Energy joins this episode of Electric Perspectives Global Circuit recorded in March 2022.   The Global Circuit is brought to you by EEI International Programs as part of EEI's Electric Perspectives podcast. For more information about EEI International Programs, visit https://www.eei.org/about-eei/international-members

We explore a bit about collective bargaining and unions. We also hear from Dave Jones on true energy security and from a March 23 rally on a constitutional lawsuit against the Montana utility Northwestern Energy and the state of Montana. Linda Gillison and soundman Jim discuss the anti-war movement in Ukraine and how the war has eroded freedom of speech in the US.

Construction is beginning on NorthWestern Energy's first new power plant in Montana since the “Dave Gates” plant went on-line near Anaconda in 2011, which could be very good news for Montanans who are worried about rolling blackouts when there isn't […]

Our word of the week is "climate," where we dive into the climate crisis. Jeff Smith of 350 Montana tells us about the proposed Northwestern Energy gas-fired electric plant for Laurel, Montana and how it would contribute to climate change. And we look at the Kellogg's strike and the union election victories at Starbucks stores in Buffalo, NY. And we look at recent elections in Venezuela and Chile, as well as the current status of the pandemic. Join sound soundman Jim, Jim Lizka and Mark for this episode.

The West Wind Fire in Fergus County is still zero percent contained but was showing minimal fire activity today. Enhanced mapping shows the size of the fire as 10,644 acres, down from an earlier estimate.

The West Wind Fire in Fergus County is still zero percent contained but was showing minimal fire activity today. Enhanced mapping shows the size of the fire as 10,644 acres, down from an earlier estimate.

Rebecca and Mari celebrate their podcast's first anniversary with the best dam guest ever: Jeremy, the Dam Expert from NorthWestern Energy. In this highly anticipated episode, the three use more than enough dam puns, and Jeremy tackles all of Rebecca's and Mari's dam questions with ease. We cannot wait for future episodes with Jeremy, and we are so thankful for NorthWestern Energy's partnership to make this episode happen. Thanks to all of our listeners for supporting us this past year! #WereNoDamExperts #VisitGreatFalls

This month's episode features the CEO of NorthWestern Energy, Bob Rowe.Bob has been described by his colleagues as a champion and ally for women in utilities and I'm pleased to be able to share this perspective with you on the show. Bob shares his views on why diversity is important for utilities, the changes he has seen with regards to diversity and inclusion over the years and what NorthWestern is doing to support women in utilities.  Finally, Bob shares his career journey and offers three key pieces of advice for people starting out in their careers. 

Montana Repertory Theatre had to put live performances on hold and find new ways to show up for ourcommunity: for the 2020/2021 season they held socially distanced performances, created dial-in audio plays and releasedbrand-new GoPlay! app.  The Rep's 2021-2022 season kicks off in September with the latest installment of our Plays onTap series, which invites you to relive your high school days. Then, join Montana Rep as they create a new holiday tradition, help two teenagers save Missoula from an evil warlock and celebrate Montana's veterans.Cost should never be a barrier to art, and thanks to a generous sponsorship by NorthWestern Energy, we can act on those values and allow you to choose how much you pay for every ticket. Maybe that means paying last year's ticket price of $25, or a larger amount to include a donation, or $5 to see the arts while staying on a budget. No matter where you're at, or what you want to pay, we can't wait to welcome you toour next play.Details and tickets at  montanarep.com

Today's guest is Robert Rowe, CEO of Northwestern Energy, provider of electricity and natural gas to over 700,000 residential and business customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Bob has been CEO since 2008 and prior to that served as chair of the Montana Public Service Commission for 11 years. He's also served in leadership roles for various organizations committed to improving the efficiency and stability of our energy systems. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XzaO7Y1dv10826BMC8pLsBgl3tdJMhFHRiPUc0BoBwg/edit?usp=sharing

In this final episode for Season 1 of the Women in Utilities Podcast, I'm joined by Britt Ide.Britt is an engineer and a lawyer who has over 25 years experience in the energy and utilities industry and currently serves on the Board of Directors or on Advisory Boards for a number of public and private companies and non-profit organisations. These include the Board of Directors for NorthWestern Energy,  ATLIS Motor Vehicles, the Energy Policy Institute, and Hot Rock Energy Research Organisation and the Advisory Board for 3 Degrees.Britt shares with me what being on a Board entails, the skills and experience that you need,and how to find Board opportunities. While serving on a Board maybe something for the latter part of your career, Britt shares some tips on how you can start to prepare yourself for Board positions early on. Britt is very passionate about encouraging women to pursue careers in engineering and increasing the number of women and the diversity of Boards. She has been involved in a lot of initiatives to make an impact in these areas and in this episode she shares some of the resources and programs that are available to women interested in board opportunities. Links to all of the resources Britt talks about can be found below.Resources discussed:Athena Alliance: https://athenaalliance.com/50/50 Women on Boards: https://5050wob.com/Clean Energy Education and Empowerment International Initiative: https://www.c3e-international.org/https://www.c3eawards.org/Nurole: https://www.nurole.com/Women's Energy Network: https://www.womensenergynetwork.org/Women Corporate Directors: https://www.womencorporatedirectors.org/Organisations discussed:North Western Energy: https://www3.northwesternenergy.com/home3 Degrees: https://3degreesinc.com/Atlis Motor Vehicles: www.atlismotorvehicles.comEnergy Policy Institute: https://www.boisestate.edu/epi/home/about-us/Plan C Advisors: https://www.plancadvisors.com/Coalition for Green Capital: https://coalitionforgreencapital.com/Hot Rock Energy Research Institute: https://www.hotrockhero.org/

Our word of the week is "just transition." We get an update on the striking Missoula airport workers from Jared Bonney. Friend of the Show Linda Gillison and Mark review the United Mine Workers proposal for transition away from coal, the state of cleanup of Colstrip 1 & 2, the Montana Legislature's attempts to guarantee on the backs of ratepayers Northwestern Energy's purchase of Colstrip 3 & 4, the response of St. Paul union members to the Minnesota National Guard using their union hall, and how Taiwan did such a remarkable job in containing COVID-19.

Will SB 379 save the Colstrip power industry & economy, or will ratepayers be left holding the bag for nothing. John Hines of Northwestern Energy defended the measure, which brought prompt opposition from Sen. Brad Molnar. Catch the back and forth here.

We are THRILLED to bring you some exciting news about big bad bills going down! Of course, there's still work to do: we also have updates on voting rights attacks, tax codes, NorthWestern Energy trickery, and which bills are awaiting their fate on the Governor's desk. Plus, climate organizer Eliza Donahue and FMT intern Brianna Shadle interview David Samollow from Earthtone Outside MT about working to create space and community for people of color in Montana's great outdoors. Sign up to submit artwork to our collaborative economic justice project by the end of the day today! Check out the upcoming protest at the Capitol against the anti-trans sports ban, HB112. Take action on the bills mentioned in this episode: NO to HB651 NO to SB399 Thank your senator for voting NO on SB100 NO to SB379 NO to HB273, HB481, and HB576 Thank your senator for voting NO on HB244

"Solidarity" is the Word of the Week. We interview 3 Missoula airport ground crew workers who have walked out on strike for higher wages and dignity on the job. And we have Jeff Smith of 350Montana report on Montana SB 379 which guarantees the survival of Northwestern Energy on the backs of its ratepayers. Sound sound man Jim Gillan, Friend of the Show Linda Gillison and Mark talk about these things, the union loss at Bamazon, and other news of the week.

The Montana Senate has approved a bill that could pass costs for the Colstrip coal-fired power plant onto NorthWestern Energy customers if the utility buys an added share in the plant. Senate Bill 379 , intended to continue the operating life of the Colstrip power plant, passed on the 27 to 21 vote and now heads to the House for debate.

Superfund Coordinator Jon Sesso of Butte checks in to give MCVcast an in-depth look at the recently approved Consent Decree to clean up decades of toxic pollution in the Mining City. Plus Aaron Murphy, Whitney Tawney and Jake Brown recap this week's political debates, a new decision in the scheme to put fake candidates on the November ballot and another slap on the wrist for NorthWestern Energy and Montana's Public Service Commission. LINKS: * Watch MontanaPBS' U.S. House debate: https://bit.ly/2G7JkFo * Watch MTN's Attorney General debate: https://bit.ly/3cwJ0fQ * Montana Supreme Court's ruling on the GOP's fake Green Party candidates: https://bit.ly/3kEfzLs * Montana Supreme Court: PSC and Northwestern Energy “Unlawful”: https://bit.ly/3j0EA2V * Op-ed from Montana business owners shredding Sen. Daines for claiming credit on Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act: https://bit.ly/3mSW2ZU * Missoula County Commissioners support the popular Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act: https://bit.ly/2Hn8q3O * Judge okays Butte Hill Consent Decree: https://bit.ly/3j0hsSv * Sen. Heinrich's op-ed re: William Perry Pendley: https://bit.ly/3j1iCgq * The MCV Education Fund's letter to protect the Big Snowies: https://bit.ly/3kOIJYz

Why is now the best time for NorthWestern Energy to move forward with a 64-day maintenance shutdown of Unit 4? For one, there’s generally more affordable energy available on the open market in the fall, and for two, in so many words, it keeps the unit’s west coast energy partners, who are soon to divest…

December 15, 2009: Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation announces the permanent closure of the expansive line-board plant just west of Missoula. 417 workers were told they had two weeks before they had to find a new job. For an explanation as to why, Smurfit President Steve Klinger writes in a brief statement that mills were “high-cost facilities that do not provide adequate returns over the long term for the company.” The immediate economic impacts of Frenchtown and Missoula are enormous. At the time, Smurfit-Stone was the second-largest taxpayer in Missoula County, second only to NorthWestern Energy. More than a decade later, after Smurfit-Stone dropped a mess in the heart of Missoula County, An industrial graveyard filled with sludge ponds, discarded heavy equipment and toxic metals sit dangerously close to our beloved Clark Fork River. Empty cleanup promises by shell companies inheriting Smurfit’s liabilities have done nothing to remove the hazardous waste pools that today sit seeping toxins into groundwater. Inaction by the state legislature, the EPA, and ownership will not be tolerated any longer. How did we get here?

Daniel Carlino, candidate for Public Service Commission District 4, doesn't shy away from the activist message at the center of his campaign. In his interview with the Montana PostCast, he called for public ownership of utilities, an end to the corrupting influence of money in our politics, and an assertive approach designed to hold politicians accountable. Carlino believes that the PSC can take the lead on climate justice and ensuring that public policy matches what the science tells us: "We're [working on changing] our politics on what's politically acceptable to match up with what science is demanding that we do to stop the climate crisis and what justice is demanding that we do to uplift our fellow neighbors and really have some better equality in this country. So just being passionate about protecting our natural world and really just seeing the injustices in our political system has brought me to want to get involved and organize people and make sure that we come out the other side better after this election." Asked about the experience he'd bring to the PSC, Carlino highlighted his education, climate advocacy, and his willingness to take on what he calls the “most corrupt political body in Montana”: "My main experience has been studying into climate change studies into how our natural world works and our ecosystems and experience with organizing people and taking on corruption when we're looking at the PSC. This is the most corrupt political body in Montana right now. They have been subservient to allowing these monopolies, especially Northwestern Energy, to run all over Montanans for their profit motives. And my experience with organizing campaigns to take the fossil fuel money out of our politics, organizing campaigns to help push for a green new deal and leave town halls to educate our community about what a green new deal would look like is the kind of experience that I'm bringing to the table." A centerpiece of his campaign is a call for public ownership of utilities: "The main reason I'm calling for [public ownership] is because we would do two things. One, people would save money by not having to give that 200 million dollars a year to Northwestern Energy and profits. The profit the profit margin will not be added on to people's energy bills with public ownership. And the second one is that the majority of people don't want dirty energy, if we have an option. Yes, everyone wants heat in their home and everybody needs reliable energy, But with public ownership, the public will have more of a say in the direction that we had rather than a for-profit company." Asked about his prospects in a general election if he wins the primary, Carlino cited his ability to bring new voters and his experience canvassing: "I think a lot of people, a lot of youth especially, well, they'll vote in the general election, especially for this year, but they may not vote for PSC. They don't understand what the PSC is. So I think trying to get out the youth vote is going to be one way that helps me. And if you also if you look at the kind of campaign I've been able to pull off already without very much money, you know, I've gotten over ten thousand dollars in in-kind donations. I have my team is all volunteer-based. So I think building that people power is also how we're going to beat the Republicans with the backing of the Democratic Party and the Democratic voters along with using volunteer power." For more from the interview, including discussions about clean energy proposals Carlino supports, his view on the Internet as a public utility, and more, please be sure to listen to the entire episode and subscribe to the Montana PostCast below. And for more information about Daniel's campaign, be sure to visit his website, Facebook, and podcast page.

Over the past century, the community of Colstrip, Montana has been built around the booming energy coming from Colstrip's power plants. Coal power has allowed the economy of the Wild West to transform into what it is today, but it has come with consequences. While other investors in Colstrip are looking to pull out, Montana energy monopoly, Northwestern Energy is desperately wanting the approval of the PSC to purchase another 25% of Colstrip Unit 4 for $1, while concealing the costs of the coal power. What will the future of Colstrip look like, and how can we guarantee a good living in the future for these fossil-fuel industry workers? In this episode, we interview the Mayor of Colstrip, John Williams. He tells us about the past, present, and future plans for the community of Colstrip and their power plants. Mayor Williams asks that lawmakers and the PSC approach Colstrip workers issues with compassion.

In this episode, we dive into the solution for getting us off of fossil-fuel energy: a giant, pumped storage hydro project. The CEO and project coordinator for this big wet battery is Carl Borgquist, the CEO of Absaroka Energy. Carl takes us through the ins and outs of how he is using water to make up for the base load power with his pumped storage project: the Gordon Butte. As Northwestern Energy plans on digging deeper into a future of fossil-fuels, this renewable energy battery is on the market for cheaper, cleaner energy. Pumped storage hydro power is the future of energy storage, and Carl hopes for Northwestern Energy to invest in the future.

Montana utility regulators say NorthWestern Energy must spend at least $3.2 million a year on removing trees near power lines. Regulators are worried that power company equipment could spark flames similar to the devastating wildfire in California last year that killed more than 80 people and destroyed the town of Paradise.

It's been a busy week at the Montana Legislature . Medicaid expansion and a bill to help NorthWestern Energy acquire more coal are still alive; A bill to fund preschool education is killed; And a bill to help find missing and murdered Native American women is passed, then killed, then revived. Learn more now on Capitol Talk with Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin and Holly Michels.

Senate Bill 331 has emerged as one of the most significant and controversial bills of the 2019 Legislative session. Backers of the proposal say it shores-up baseload electricity generation for the state's largest utility, NorthWestern Energy, while giving some hope to the community and workers in Colstrip, where the Colstrip power plant is located. But opponents say the bill does little more than give the monopoly utility and its shareholders a "blank check" courtesy of NorthWestern Energy's electricity ratepayers. In the first installment of a special two-part Montana Lowdown podcast, longtime environmental advocate Anne Hedges of the Montana Environmental Information Center explains why she and other opponents think SB 331 is the worst bill since the Legislature's deregulation of Montana's power industry in 1997.  

SB 331 is only three pages long, but is widely seen as one of the most significant and far-reaching pieces of legislation state lawmakers are considering this session.  The bill would allow NorthWestern Energy to purchase an additional 150 megawatts of power from Colstrip Units 3 & 4 at a cost of no more than $1 and would limit the Public Service Commission’s oversight authority over how NorthWestern passes on the costs of acquiring additional Colstrip generation to its customers. Sen. Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip, isn't the lead sponsor of the bill, but by all accounts, the proposal is his idea.  In the second part of a two-part Montana Lowdown podcast exploring SB 331, Ankney, a former coal miner, explains why he thinks SB 331 is a good bill, and why NorthWestern ratepayers shouldn't fear rising utility cost because of it. 

Join Roger Brossy, Managing Director, Semler Brossy Consulting Group; Timothy P. Olson, Senior Corporate Counsel and Corporate Secretary, NorthWestern Energy; Carey Roberts, Deputy General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer & Corporate Secretary, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc; and our Erica Salmon Byrne for a discussion on Pay-Gap in Practice: Company Responsibility and the Shift in Compensation Transparency, which took place at Ethisphere’s 8th Annual Global Ethics Summit. More on the panel here.