Spring into Action!
As we embrace the turning of seasons, we invite you to join us by contributing to our spring fundraising campaign. It's never been a better time to join the movement.
Protecting Air & Water
Protecting and advancing air and water quality standards to ensure a clean and healthy climate for future generations
Climate & Energy
Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels through an equitable transition to renewable and clean energy sources
Down to Earth
Stay up-to-date on the latest environment news in Montana with Down to Earth, our quarterly membership publication.
FROM A BOARD MEMBER: JESSIE WILES
NWE’S 28% RATE INCREASE
WATER POLLUTION KNOWS NO BORDERS
MONTANA'S ENERGY TRANSITION
FROM A BOARD MEMBER: JESSIE WILES
From a Board Member: Jessie Wiles
What leads some people to give up and accept the state of the world, while others take action? For many of us, learning the impacts and existential threat of climate change has led to increased feelings of grief, sadness, anxiety, and fear for the future, often branded informally as “climate anxiety.” Climate anxiety, though a shared intergenerational experience, may be felt even more deeply by the younger generation and those in marginalized communities, who often feel the weighty burden of fixing our current climate crisis.
NWE’S 28% RATE INCREASE
PSC Approves NorthWestern’s 28% Electricity Rate Hike for Resident
Anyone who watched the most recent NorthWestern Energy rate case meetings was left wondering whether the Public Service Commissioners (PSC) had read any of the thousands of pages of documents and expert reports that detailed why NorthWestern was not entitled to its proposed electric rate increase.
WATER POLLUTION KNOWS NO BORDERS
Water Pollution Knows No Borders: How Canadian Coal is Poisoning Montana Waters
Lake Koocanusa continues to be plagued by selenium pollution from Canadian coal mining, and MEIC continues to hold the line alongside a number of partners. We’ve shared updates about Koocanusa in previous issues of Down to Earth, but MEIC’s part in this campaign is just one piece of a much larger story.
MONTANA'S ENERGY TRANSITION
Montana’s Energy Transition
Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time, driven by unprecedented atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases as a result of human activities since the Industrial Revolution. Access to abundant fossil fuel energy has made modern technological development possible, but there are dire consequences to this energy consumption.
The Latest Stories and Actions from MEIC
Read the Ruling: Held v State of Montana
Aug. 14, 2023 – The Court finds in favor of 16 youth plaintiffs who sued the State of Montana. Read the ruling here.
Now hiring: Sustainable Communities Advocate or Director
March 18, 2024Now hiring: Climate and Campaigns Organizer
December 11, 2023Webinar: Exempt Wells
December 1, 2023From a Board Member: Jessie Wiles
December 1, 2023PSC Approves NorthWestern’s 28% Electricity Rate Hike for Residents
December 1, 2023Keeping an Eye on Hydrogen Hubs
December 1, 2023Will State Listen to the Public on MEPA and the Climate?
December 1, 2023What’s the Deal with the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases?
December 1, 2023
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
Montana PSC hears testimony on proposal to account for costs of climate change
April 8, 2024 – The Montana Public Service Commission’s hearing room in Helena was full Monday, as conservation groups, businesses and others made their case that the PSC should be considering the costs of climate change when making regulatory decisions.
Montana groups: Coal mining bill that would have weakened water quality won’t become law
April 1, 2024 – A bill that would have allowed coal mines to violate water quality standards if excess pollution was only for a limited amount of time won’t become law in Montana, according to plaintiffs who challenged it and another related bill.
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
Phone: (406) 443-2520
Email: meic@meic.org
Mail to: P.O. Box 1184, Helena, MT, 59624
Office locations:
107 W. Lawrence St., #N-6, Helena
225 W. Front, Missoula