Here is a brief description of several measures from each of the five Technical Working Groups:

Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (RCII)

This Technical Working Group focused on reducing the demand for electricity and heating fuels.  The group developed 13 different recommendations that comprehensively improve Montana’s current energy efficiency and conservation programs.  Among the RCII recommendations are the adoption of efficiency standards for appliances (RCII-3), improved energy codes and building practices for new construction (RCII-4 and RCII-5), and consumer education programs (RCII-6).

Energy Supply (ES)

This Technical Working Group focused on the “supply side” and how to encourage low-carbon forms of energy production.  Included among its thirteen recommendations are:  an expansion of Montana’s Renewable Energy Standard to require utilities to obtain 25% of their electricity from renewable sources by the year 2025 (ES-1), the removal of barriers and increased incentives for renewable energy projects (both central station and distributed, ES-2 and ES-4), and a requirement that new fossil fuel-based power generators and coal-to-liquid facilities meet carbon dioxide emission standards (ES-5, ES-10, and ES-12).

Transportation and Land Use (TLU)

This Technical Working Group focused on the transportation sector, addressing the greenhouse gas emissions of automobiles, trucks, trains, and even aircraft.  It also addressed the equally important issues of land-use planning, recognizing its inextricable connection to transportation.  The thirteen TLU policies adopted by the broader group included the following:  tailpipe standards and idle reduction requirements (TLU-1, TLU 7, and TLU-8), requirements for low rolling-resistance replacement tires (TLU-2), and a package of smart growth policies to help discourage sprawl and decrease vehicle miles traveled (TLU-5).

Agriculture, Forestry, and Waste Management (AFW)

This Technical Working Group focused on the potential of agriculture and forestry to produce low-carbon fuels and potentially to act as a sink for carbon dioxide (through the proper management of agriculture and forest lands).  The CCAC adopted twelve TLU recommendations, which included measures to enhance soil carbon through no-till farming (AFW-1), measures to promote biofuels like biodiesel and ethanol (AFW-2 and AFW-3), and measures to promote the use of locally-produced food and fiber (AFW-11).

Cross-Cutting (CC)

The Cross-Cutting Technical Working Group dealt with broader, higher-level strategies that will help facilitate the overall objectives of the group.  The six CC recommendations that were adopted include:  regular updating of the greenhouse gas inventory and forecast document that was developed as part of the CCAC process (CC-1), public education and outreach programs (CC-4), and a recommendation that Montana join the Western Climate Initiative—a coalition of six Western States and two Canadian provinces seeking to establish a multi-jurisdiction carbon reduction framework (CC-7.4).