Jun 9, 2026 Who is powering Montana’s future? Join Protect Our Winters (POW), MEIC, and other expert panelists as we break down what’s in the latest IRP draft plan from NorthWestern Energy, what it means for Montana communities, and concrete steps you can take to make your voice heard. NorthWestern Energy recently filed the second draft of its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Public Service Commission, a 20-year blueprint that determines what kinds of energy Montana relies on for decades to come. This process will influence everything from household energy costs to carbon emissions and whether Montana doubles down on expensive fossil fuels or invests in cleaner, cheaper energy like wind, solar, and storage. This event is free and open to the public! Refreshments on us + we will have a Bedrock sandals giveaway! Doors open at 5:30pm, panel starts at 6pm. Missoula | June 9, doors at 5:30pm, panel at 6pm | Goodworks Place – 129 W. Alder Street, Missoula Jun 11, 2026 NorthWestern Energy filed its final Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Public Service Commission (PSC) in April, and the PSC will soon host public meetings as it reviews the plan. It is essential that Montanans show up in force this summer to tell the PSC that we need NorthWestern to do better as it plans for the coming decades of Montana’s electric system. NorthWestern’s IRP is heavily biased toward expensive and environmentally destructive coal, gas, and nuclear generation, while casting the tremendous benefits of low-cost wind and solar generation aside. MEIC hosted a previous webinar after NorthWestern released its draft IRP in January, and the final plan filed at the PSC did not address most of the shortcomings that were prevalent in that initial draft. However, the PSC’s final review of the plan will be crucial in determining whether NorthWestern can charge its customers for additional expensive and unnecessary coal, gas, and nuclear generation in the coming years. The PSC will soon announce a 60-day public comment period along with a handful of public meetings, and it will be important that as many concerned ratepayers as possible tell the PSC that we need NorthWestern to do better. Join MEIC for a webinar to learn more about the major shortcomings in NorthWestern’s IRP, discuss what has been changed since NorthWestern released its Draft IRP in January, and prepare for providing public comment at the PSC’s upcoming public meetings this summer. Webinar | June 11, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Join the Zoom Meeting here: Meeting ID: 874 4402 2691 Jun 17, 2026 Join us for a summer gathering in Great Falls! Connect with fellow MEIC members and supporters, enjoy some light refreshments, and hear updates on our work. Bring a friend or neighbor! Please RSVP to Denise at drothbarber@meic.org June 17, 4 – 6pm | West Bank Park (200 3rd Ave NW, Great Falls) Jun 18, 2026 Join MEIC and partners for an panel discussion in Broadview to dig into what Quantica’s AI data center in Yellowstone County could mean for local residents, what we know about the project so far, what we still need to find out, and how we can push for community-first decisions instead of corporate driven development. Broadview | June 18, 6 pm | Broadview Community Center, 13725 4th St Jul 20, 2026 Join MEIC at Wild Montana’s Bands for Lands — a summer concert series at the historic Bluestone building in Helena — that brings together live music, local beer, and a shared love for Montana’s wild places. On July 20, MEIC and Prickly Pear Land Trust are partnering with Wild Montana for the evening to celebrate the lands and communities we’re working to protect. We’ll gather for good tunes from MEIC’s very own, Nick Fitzmaurice, enjoy cold drinks and good food, and a chance to chat with MEIC and Prickly Pear Land Trust! Live Music from Nick Fitzmaurice 6–8 p.m. on July 20. FREE & FAMILY-FRIENDLY. Bring a chair, your friends, and your love for wild places. Beer, wine, and sodas available for purchase from Rialto Bar (no outside alcohol, please). Learn more and see the full lineup on Wild Montana’s website. Helena | July 20, 6 pm | Historic Bluestone House, 80 S. Warren StreetJun 2026
Who Powers Montana's Future? IRP Panel with POW
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Webinar: IRP Revisited – NorthWestern’s Final Plan for Montana’s Energy Future and the PSC’s Review
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87444022691?pwd=bZtK53PmShJ15qcLTJSoadkz2NCTXe.1
Passcode: 260791
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https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/87444022691/invitations?signature=-Hst02G7Kcx0JN6UDfQmiaSx3vMK-mWe_ym7kraTdt8MEIC Summer Social - Great Falls
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Broadview - Data Center Community Conversation
6:00 PM - 7:00 PMJul 2026
Bands for Lands
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Have an event that you think may align with MEIC’s mission? Contact us at meic@meic.org, and we will consider posting it to our events calendar.
Also check out the Conservation Calendar for more Montana events.
