In this June 11 webinar, MEIC outlined the major shortcomings in NorthWestern’s IRP, discussed what has been changed since NorthWestern released its Draft IRP in January, and gave tips on how to provide persuasive public comments to the PSC in writing and in person at the PSC’s upcoming public meetings this summer.
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. Despite strong public comments in favor of low-cost clean energy, NorthWestern’s final plan does not address most of the defects that were prevalent in its 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.
Linked shared during this webinar:
- Written comments can be submitted to the PSC until July 28 via email: pschelp@mt.gov
- The PSC will also hold at least two Public Meetings, though those dates have not yet been announced. We think there should be a meeting in every PSC district.
- Here is MEIC’s webpage about this IRP: https://meic.org/northwestern-energys-2026-integrated-resource-plan/
- Here’s that RMI study: https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2025/01/Energy_Reinvestments_Case_Study_West.pdf
- Here’s a lot more information about nuclear energy: https://meic.org/nuclear-energy/
- A link about some of the recent nuclear deregulation: https://meic.org/rapid-nuclear-deregulation-puts-montana-at-risk/
- There’s a lot of information about proposed data centers on our website, as well as a petition asking for these facilities to be regulated: https://meic.org/data-centers/
- Our event in Broadview next week will also be streamed on Zoom: https://meic.org/events/broadview-data-center-event-2/
- Here are resources on our website for writing and speaking public comment, as well as submitting op-eds and letters to the editor: https://meic.org/resources/
- Here’s an article about what Nick mentioned, where the PSC had an external consultant determine the NWE put its thumb on the scale in the planning process: https://meic.org/northwestern-caught-with-thumb-on-the-scale-against-renewables-toward-fossil-fuels/
- Here’s a reel from MEIC that goes over some of the worst parts of the IRP: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1717837959552203
- Brian Bird may get as much as a $16 million bonus for the merger, according to this story: https://dailymontanan.com/2026/05/12/businesses-urge-power-merger-while-consumers-cite-cost-reliability-concerns/
