New agreement aims to add renewable power to Montana’s grid

Two Montana communities have voted to approve the Green Power Program, which, pending approval by the state Public Service Commission, will add a new renewable energy source for local governments, businesses and eventually residents to tap into. 

Local officials say the Green Power Program, also referred to as a green tariff, is key to getting Bozeman and Missoula to their 100% clean electricity goals and will help decarbonize the electrical grid. Questions remain regarding how the partnership with NorthWestern Energy and existing state energy policy will affect the program and clean energy goals in general.

“I truly do believe that local government and our private sector need to be the leaders along with nonprofits,” Missoula City Councilwoman Gwen Jones said at a recent meeting where the council voted to approve the program. “We have to do this on a local level because it needs to happen yesterday, and I know this is a slow process to do it the right way, but we’re getting there.”