Renewable energy is good for the economy

Renewable energy 

  • can support the workers of coal country in a just transition to jobs with a future

  • is locally made

  • is protected from geopolitical price impacts

  • protects our economy from the devistating impacts of climate change

  • supports industry by helping keep electricity prices low

  • can save us all money

The surrounding states are rapidly growing their renewable energy industries, creating thousands of good paying jobs and creating a future economy in which energy is affordable and locally produced.  Montanans are being left behind. For example, in 2022 South Dakota employed more than 2500 people in utility scale renewable energy, but Montana only employed 500 despite having similar potential and a larger population. Right now there is a line of renewable energy projects waiting for Northwestern Energy and the PSC's approval that could add hundreds of jobs to our economy.

NWE customers now pay more for electricity than anyone else in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, or the Dakotas.  In 2023 NWE spent a record amount lobbying our legislators and public service commission in an effort to expand more expensive fossil fuel generation, even as most other utilities are shifting towards renewables.  CEO Brian Bird said “I may be the only CEO in the utility industry adding coal to his portfolio.”  If expanding coal made economic sense, we wouldn't be the only ones doing it!

Across the country, coal is becoming unaffordable and plants are shutting down.  The coal workers of this state deserve an opportunity to take part in this energy transition, and federal funding is available through the IRA to help them retool.  Places like Colstrip are uniquely poised to benefit from the transition -- huge incentives exist to build new renewable plants in their communities and the transmission infrastructure is largely in place.  But they will be left behind if we don’t act soon.

Cheap energy is one of the most critical drivers of industry, and Montanans across the board can not afford NWE’s plan.

If rapid decarbonization of our economy does not occur, global economic outputs are expected to decrease 25% in the next 20 years and the impacts to Montana would be devistating.  This would be an unprecedented global economic catastrophe, and renewable energy is critical for protecting us and our children from this disaster.