MEIC's Role in Montana Energy Policy

For more than three decades, MEIC has played an active role in Montana energy policy.  In 1997, MEIC was a vigorous opponent of electric utility deregulation, recognizing the profound threat it posed to both consumers and the environment.  For the last ten years, MEIC has worked with citizens, utilities, and policymakers to try to repair the damage of this failed policy.

Since its inception in December 2005, MEIC's Patrick Judge played a key role on Gov. Brian Schweitzer's Climate Change Advisory Committee, which in November 2007 released its final report (The “Montana Climate Change Action Plan”) (and appendices) with 54 recommendations to return Montana’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020 — with a net savings to Montanans of $65.8 million.

MEIC has continuously advocated clean, affordable, reliable and efficient energy solutions for Montana, playing a key role in the adoption of each of the following policies:

• Universal System Benefits Charge, 1997 (the primary funding mechanism in Montana for renewable energy, energy conservation, and low income bill assistance)
  
• Net Metering Law, 1999 (requires NorthWestern Energy to interconnect small renewable energy systems and allows homeowners to generate their own power and receive a credit for excess generation)
• Clean Energy Tax Incentives / Loans, 2001
• Green Power Program, 2003
• Update of Montana’s Energy Building Codes, 2004
• Renewable Energy Standard, 2005 (encourages wind development in Montana, diversifies the State's energy supply, and promotes investment in rural Montana)
  

MEIC has also been an active player in regional energy policy.  MEIC staff serve on the boards of directors of the Northwest Energy Coalition, the Renewable Northwest Project, and the Western Clean Energy Campaign.

MEIC has worked to protect the Major Facility Siting Act (MFSA), which regulates the location and construction of power plants, pipelines, and transmission lines and requires that these structures be certified as to environmental compatibility and public need.