Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC

08/28/2026

County Commissioners need to do their jobs, listen to and represent their constituents instead of putting up obstacles," former Montana Legislator (2011-22) Mary McNally wrote in an Op-Ed in the Billings Gazette about what a mess the Broadview data center fight has become.

We couldn't agree more. Read on 👇

Opinion: NWE is again asking the PSC to approve a rate increase of 8.3%, but the actual number could be as high as 24%.

08/27/2026

Stop by the Montana Renewable Energy Association Clean Energy Fair this Saturday! MEIC's Nick Fitzmaurice will be there for a fun morning of Connection, Inspiration, Education, and Action!

The Fair takes place in downtown Great Falls from 9 AM-12 PM. Learn more on their website: https://montanarenewables.org/clean-energy-fair/clean-energy-fair-2026/

08/25/2026

Despite a growing call from both Canadian and U.S. environmental organizations and Tribes for an independent panel review, Glencore, the mining company that has taken over the Fording River coal mine in B.C.'s Elk Valley, is trying to expand their project. Trust in Canada's federal and provincial governments has eroded significantly.

“We are extremely concerned that the actions and comments of the B.C. and Canadian governments indicate they have already decided to find a way to rubber-stamp the huge mine expansion no matter what the cost to the environment and public,” said MEIC's Deputy Director, Derf Johnson.

Selenium levels in waterways on both sides of the border are more than 30 times the established aquatic-life safety thresholds and the cost of cleaning up the pollution has reached $6.4 billion.

A widening coalition of environmental organizations, U.S. tribes and Canadian First Nations is escalating calls for an independent panel to review Glencore’s proposed expansion of the Fording River coal mine in British Columbia’s Elk Valley, arguing that federal and provincial officials have alr...

08/24/2026

It comes as "snow surprise" that western states' low snowpack is due to human-caused warming, which is mainly from the burning of fossil fuels like oil or coal. Marianne Cowherd, a snow scientist at Montana State University, along with other researchers have found that severe lack of snow is now four times more likely to occur, and that snow droughts would happen every 6.8 years instead of every 30 years during preindustrial times. Now more than ever, we need strong state leadership to address climate action.

New MSU study finds clear connection between low snowpack and human-caused climate change.

08/21/2026

MEIC was glad to join the Norman Maclean Literary Festival this past Sunday and be in the presence of other Blackfoot River advocates like Jack Wright, Steven Kloezel of The Nature Conservancy, Juanita Vero of E Bar L Ranch, Annick Smith, co-producer of A River Runs Through It, Kim Briggeman of Bonner Milltown Historical Society, our Deputy Director Derf Johnson, Caroline Keen of Blackfoot River Community, and Zach Angstead of Wild Montana.

Derf Johnson spoke about his lifelong love of angling, childhood memories of watching the filming of A River Runs Through It near his home, and proposed mines that threaten the Blackfoot River. Check the comments for more information: https://meic.org/gold-mining-threatens-the-blackfoot-river-again/

08/21/2026

The data is (partially) out of the bag. After months of lobbying by several groups, including MEIC, the Public Service Commission has released agreements between NorthWestern Energy and data center developers. Despite this, Sabey Data Centers, who had been looking in the Butte-Silver Bow area, still chose to redact one of TWO locations.

Anne Hedges, MEIC's Executive Director, said, "The community deserves to know where [the second data center is] going to be located. They’re keeping it redacted so the community doesn’t know that it’s under threat. And I think the people in Butte would certainly want to know.”

The Montana Public Service Commission on Monday released initial data center agreements made with NorthWestern Energy after the letters were previously held from public view for months.

08/20/2026

Victory ‼ Following more than a year of advocacy, we have great news out of the MT Public Service Commission: The PSC has voted to send NorthWestern Energy’s wildly deficient 20-year plan back to the utility for improvement.

This is a first, and it couldn’t have happened without you all – your comments and showing up helped push the PSC to do the right thing. Against all odds – and gerrymandering – this is a huge victory. 🙌

08/20/2026

The power of public engagement was on full display when the Public Service Commission voted to send back NorthWestern Energy's joke of an IRP. Even though the PSC only had two public hearings both in Helena, community members showed up [in person, online, and with written comments to] made their voices heard.

NorthWestern now has 30 days to improve the IRP or request an extension if needed.

NorthWestern Energy’s plan for energy resources for the next 20 years came up short Tuesday at the Montana Public Service Commission.

08/19/2026

Data center developers cancelled 46 projects across 20 states over a two-year period, according to a report from carbon management firm Carbon Direct. Lack of transparency was cited as the top reason for project abandonment, as well as factors such as quick organization by community members and opposition by conservation groups.

A lack of transparency around ownership, power and water requirements was cited as the most common issue in 46 cancelled projects across a two-year period in 20 states.

08/18/2026

Montanans understand the importance of land stewardship. The rivers we fish and the mountains we hike need to be taken care of. So when Pres. Trump's administration stripped away the seals of five Tribal nations from the Bears Ears National Monument, it was a huge environmental loss, not just for Utah, but for other states that care about protecting their homes and the environment.

Indigenous people have been part of these landscapes for thousands of years. Removing their seals from these signs is enormously disrespectful and another way this administration is trying to erase history.

One week after shrinking Bears Ears National Monument by 91 percent, the Trump administration has removed the seals of five Tribal nations from Bears Ears signs. The Tribal seals represented members of the Bears Ears Commission, which includes the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Z...