[MCN] Climate Change and Our Economy

[Jeffrey J. Smith]

*Release: October 23, 2017*




*Powering Montana’s Future: *

 *a panel discussion in Missoula*





In Montana we no longer have to wait for climate change. Its evidence
pulses through our state in the mega-fires and smoke-choked communities
after a normal snowpack, a “flash drought” shriveling our agricultural
landscape along with a fire that burned 270,000 acres, and “hoot owl”
restrictions that crimp our rivers and streams and cause tens of thousands
of cold-water-dependent fish to go belly-up on our iconic Yellowstone River
at the height of tourist season.



There is only one question remaining about our coal industry and its
Colstrip electrical generators. That question is, what comes after the
Colstrip plants’ decommissioning?



350 Montana decided to research and publish reports and sponsor a citizen
forum:



*MISSOULA: **Wednesday, October 25, 2017, at 7:00 p.m.*

UC Theater, University of Montana



Special Topic:* Climate Change and our Economy, Politics & Policy*

Missoula Panelists: Donovan Power (Power Consulting); Dick Barrett (MT
State Senator), Jacqueline Sussman, UM grad student, and John Woodland, 350
Montana co-chair



“Global climate change is due to the continued burning of fossil fuels,
many from Montana,” said Jeff Smith of 350 Montana, which is co-sponsoring
the forums. “Warming temperatures are responsible for the devastating fires
across our state and the disastrous storms we see elsewhere. Citizens
across our state and our elected officials need to plan a safer, cleaner,
and sustainable energy future for Montana, or soon the Last Best Place will
only live in our memories.”



350 Montana commissioned two reports written over this past summer: one on
Montana’s transition to renewable energy and the second on the role
Northwestern Energy (NWE), Montana’s corporate energy provider, plays in
stifling a carbon-free energy system.



NWE’s website suggests, “We are committed to providing responsible,
sustainable energy to meet our customer’s needs, while protecting, and even
enhancing, the natural environment.” Yet their actions show a very
different relationship with the environment and the concerns of Montana
citizens. Polla show that over 90 percent of favor more wind and solar
energy.



It’s also true that Northwestern Energy (NWE), Montana’s largest
utility, released a plan in 2015 for how it wants to generate electricity
for the next 40 years. The utility wants to spend $1.3 billion on 13 new
natural gas units to meet “peak demand” and deliver energy to Montana
citizens.



“Natural gas plants are currently their choice of energy production,” said
Carla Abrams a member of 350 Montana, “rather than adding carbon-free
renewables and utilizing storage options to meet our projected needs. Of
course, they seek to be vertically integrated, owning the gas wells, the
pipelines, and the generators and raking in profits.”



350 Montana thinks using renewables and developing storage opportunities is
the solution, not climate damaging fossil fuels—a path that has lead us to
the edge of climate chaos.



NWE claims that because solar and wind are intermittent, they can’t be used
on hot afternoons in the summer or cold winter nights.



“We at 350 Montana, and many other organizations and allies in Montana,
couldn’t disagree more,” said Jim Parker, another 350 Montana member and
moderator of the panel discussions. “That’s why we decided to hold these
panel discussions and release our Reports. Montana has a profound
opportunity right now, with the Colstrip plants going down, to implement a
just transition to 100 percent renewables. And we should.”



The panels will discuss both of the reports’ conclusions, while also
discussing ways Montana can use renewable technologies, storage capacities,
conservation techniques and other advances to meet this challenge. Each
panel discussion will have a special topic that will be discussed pertinent
to that area’s economic and social interests. The panels will also discuss
what citizens can do to encourage our legislative leaders, decision-makers
and energy providers to support our demands for a 100 percent transition
away from fossil fuels and towards a renewable energy future.



“And when we switch,” adds 350 Montana’s Jerome Walker, “as we know we
must, to clean, renewable electricity that’s generated by all the wind,
sun, and flowing water we have here in Montana, then some of these ideas,
maybe even most of them, will be needed and will be used.”



** 350 Montana is an affiliate of the international organization 350.org
<http://350.org>. Our mission is to work to reduce atmospheric CO2
concentrations to 350 ppm by implementing strategic actions and advocating
policies to end fossil fuel burning with the greatest urgency. We envision
a rapid conversion to a 100 percent renewable global energy system using
wind, water, and solar. We work with the global grassroots climate movement
to achieve these goals and safeguard Earth’s life-support systems.*

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