Customers of Montana’s utility NorthWestern Energy have urged the company in an open letter to commit to renewable energy and move away from fossil fuels. Ann Hedges with the Montana Environmental Information Center says there is growing discontent with the company for its decision to build a methane-gas power plant in Laurel and its resource ...
NorthWestern Energy Reportedly Violated Requirements At Hebgen Dam
According to a report filed with the Federal Energy Regulation Commission by NorthWestern Energy, the utility company is in violation of a pair of federal requirements under its dam operating license after a plunge in flows from Hebgen Dam downstream on the Madison River. A broken coupler attached to a gate stem at the dam gate dropped Novembe...
Volkswagen Settlement Equals More Charging Stations For Montana
Using money awarded from Volkswagen Settlement funds Montana’s number of fast-charging electric vehicle stations will move up to 21. Bill McGladdery is the Director of Corporate Communications for Town Pump who along with Northwestern Energy will install 2 charging stations at nine community locations. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp-conte...
Hebgen Dam Malfunction To Be Investigated
The flow of water released from Hebgen Lake into the upper Madison River was returning to normal Thursday after NorthWestern Energy crews attached a new component to a malfunctioning gate on Hebgen Dam. The fishing restriction placed on the upper Madison River by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks ends today. Governor Greg Gianforte wrote on Twit...
Hebgen Dam Gate Repaired Following Breakage
The broken gate component on Hebgen Dam that led to a massive drop in streamflow on the upper Madison River this week has been fixed. This morning, in a Facebook post, NorthWestern Energy said it was fixed just before midnight and flows had been restored to the river. The decline in flows led Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks to order a full fis...
Laurel Power Plant Development Stalls
NorthWestern Energy’s plans to build a gas-fired power plant have stalled in Laurel where neighbors say the generator will ruin their quality of life. Last week the Laurel City Council delayed votes critical to the plant’s development and formed a fact-finding commission. NorthWestern has conveyed the importance of the gas plant, telling the C...
Heating Bills Projected To Significantly Increase This Winter
According to the Montana Public Service Commission rising natural gas prices could boost heating bills by as much as 62% this winter. The announcement comes after the federal Energy Information Administration forecast higher winter heating prices for every region of the country. The winter heating period began October 1st and ends March 31st. ...
Environmental Groups File Lawsuit Against Montana DEQ
The Montana Environmental Information Center and Sierra Club have filed a lawsuit against the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. They say it ignored the state’s Constitution when permitting a NorthWestern Energy gas-fired power plant in Laurel. They cite the power plant’s contribution to local air and water pollution and withou...
Northwestern Energy To Begin Construction On Laurel Power Plant Ahead Of Schedule
NorthWestern Energy informed the Public Service Commission Tuesday it is withdrawing its request for regulatory preapproval to build a new natural gas-fired power plant in Laurel. It will get construction started saying in a press release in order to accelerate the commercial operation date of the Laurel Generating Station and to take full adv...
PSC Addresses Northwestern Energy’s Recent High Power Rates
The Office of Consumer Counsel told the Public Service Commission Tuesday NorthWestern Energy customers have been paying too much for power since July. It asked the utility regulators to dismiss the case that led to a rate hike because it changed the base rates NorthWestern agreed to in its last general rate case less than two years ago. North...