NorthWestern Energy Wants to Raise Your Electricity Rates… AGAIN
NorthWestern Energy has returned to the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) asking for permission to reach into customers’ pockets for another rate increase.
We protect and improve Montana for future generations.
Protecting Air & Water
Protecting and advancing air and water quality standards to ensure a clean and healthy climate for future generations. Campaign areas include fighting hardrock mines and pushing for air pollution regulations at power plants and industrial pollution sources.
Climate & Energy
Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels through an equitable transition to renewable and clean energy sources. Campaign areas include NorthWestern Energy accountability, development of clean and affordable energy, promotion of energy efficiency, and fighting coal, oil, and gas development and use in Montana.
Down to Earth
Stay up-to-date on the latest environment news in Montana with Down to Earth, our quarterly membership publication.
ENERGY BILLS TARGET CLEAN ENERGY, TRANSPARENCY
LAND USE BILLS THREATEN WATER QUALITY & QUANTITY
JUNQUE FILES SHED LIGHT ON BILLS
FEDERAL GOV DEREGULATES EPA
ENERGY BILLS TARGET CLEAN ENERGY, TRANSPARENCY
Energy Bills in the 2025 Legislative Session
This legislative session started with hundreds of energy-related bill draft requests. MEIC has kept a close watch and engaged exhaustively as many of these bills were introduced and moved through the legislative process.
LAND USE BILLS THREATEN WATER QUALITY & QUANTITY
Legislature Barrels Toward Land Use Regulations
As housing shortages continue to afflict communities across the state, many bills proposing to tackle housing supply and affordability head-on have passed the first house with bi-partisan support.
JUNQUE FILES SHED LIGHT ON BILLS
Junque Files: A Victory for Transparency in the Legislative Process
Montanans have one of the strongest — if not the strongest — right-to-know provisions in the country, which is enshrined in the Article II rights of our Constitution and deserving of the highest degree of protection.
FEDERAL GOV DEREGULATES EPA
Trump Round 2: Rolling Back Public Health and Environmental Protections
On March 12, Pres. Donald Trump’s new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Lee Zeldin proposed a giant step backwards for public health and the environment by announcing the intention to rollback dozens of environmental protections in what is likely the most massive deregulation of public health and environmental protections in U.S. history.
The Latest Stories and Actions from MEIC
MEIC Statement on Signing of MEPA Bills
May 1, 2025
Let's rise up.
Help protect Montana’s clean air and water.
For 50 years, MEIC has worked to keep Montana’s air and water clean. We have stopped dirty acid mines and helped pass and defend strong pollution control laws. And it’s all made possible by our members.
MEIC is made up of thousands of Montanans who care deeply about this state – our home. This strong membership has allowed MEIC to remain independent and to always fight for what is right. We would love to have you as a member too.
MEIC in the News
Environmental Review for Montana Gas Plant Called 'Woefully Inadequate'
May 6, 2025 – An environmental assessment of NorthWestern Energy’s Laurel Generating Station is “woefully inadequate,” according to comments submitted to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) by Earthjustice and the Western Environmental Law Center.
VIEWPOINT: Legislature guts public review process
April 28, 2025 – Until now, a 50-year-old Montana law has been the mechanism by which neighbors have been able to secure details about proposed developments. This law provides the public with specifics on a project’s location, environmental and social impacts, and harm to wildlife, cultural, and historic resources – such as sacred Tribal sites or sites used by Lewis and Clark.
More News:
Save Our Smith—more than just a river.
THE SMITH RIVER
A COMMON CAUSE
PROTECTING CLEAN WATER
THE SMITH RIVER
The Smith River is not a location for another failed mining experiment.
Montana’s Smith River is renowned worldwide for its clean water, rugged canyon scenery, and blue ribbon trout fishery. The Smith is Montana’s only permitted recreational river. The permitted section of the Smith River winds 59 miles through a remote canyon in the Big Belt Mountains. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks classifies the Smith River’s fishery as high-value, owing to its bountiful population of rainbow, brown, westslope cutthroat, and brook trout. The canyon walls of the Smith also boast some of the best examples of Native American pictographs in Montana.
A COMMON CAUSE
Urge Montana to protect the Smith.
Montana’s Smith River is an extraordinary resource, and deserves our most rigorous effort to protect it from mine pollution and dewatering. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and the Department of Environmental Quality Director Chris Dorrington will make critical decisions that will determine the future of the Smith River and the Sheep Creek Mine.
Please contact Governor Gianforte and Director Dorrington. Let them know that the Smith River is an incredibly important place for the people of Montana and across the country and world, and should not be sacrificed for temporary and risky mining activities.
PROTECTING CLEAN WATER
It’s time to make a stand.
The Smith River and its tributaries provide crucial habitat and spawning grounds for regional trout fisheries. The Sheep Creek drainage accounts for over half of tributary spawning of rainbow trout in the Smith River drainage, and rainbow trout have been known to travel nearly 200 miles round-trip from the Missouri River to spawn!
The Smith River depends on clean cold water from its tributaries to sustain the aquatic life within its banks and the agricultural operations along it. Demands on the river’s waters already often exceed available flows in many years, creating challenges for downstream water users.
“For a practice that has a known effect on soils and strata and water, the onus should be on the applicant [to pay for mine clean-up]. I appreciate mining practices, but what is anything worth if you don’t have clean water?”
J.P. Pomnichowski
Former Senator, SD 33
Montana Environmental
Information Center
Clean and healthful.
It's your right, our mission.
Stay Connected
P: (406) 443-2520
E: meic@meic.org
324 Fuller Ave, #C-8
Helena, MT 59601
Mailing addresses:
P.O. Box 1184, Helena, MT, 59624
225 W. Front, Missoula, MT, 59802