[MCN] Don't Let NorthWestern Energy Keep the Costs of Colstrip Hidden!

[Jeffrey J. Smith]

NorthWestern Energy wants to purchase majority ownership in Colstrip-4, an
aging coal-fired electric generator in eastern Montana. The climate impacts
will be severe because Colstrip is one of the largest sources of greenhouse
gases in the West.*The company is the only utility in the United States
expanding its use of coal.*

*Go here to sign a petition to the Montana PSC: http://chng.it/qJCtpjKH6D
<http://chng.it/qJCtpjKH6D>*

Colstrip-1 and 2 have already closed. All the other owners of Colstrip-3
and 4 are pulling out, moving to cheaper, renewable energy. They have set
aside millions of dollars for environmental cleanup and worker retraining.

NorthWestern Energy wants operate Colstrip-4 for another 25 years.

*The good news is the company must justify its acquisition and the costs to
the Montana Public Service Commission* (PSC), a five-member, elected panel
charged with protecting Montana consumers.

*The bad news is the company wants to keep the details secret, filing a
"protective order" with the PSC and claiming the costs, including the costs
of its more expensive coal contract, should be confidential.*

It's time for Montana citizens to tell NorthWestern Energy to disclose the
details of the acquisition and the price we will be paying to operate the
antiquated plant.

Go here to sign a petition to the Montana PSC: http://chng.it/qJCtpjKH6D

The petition will go to Tina Shorten, the manager of the consumer
assistance program at the PSC. It asks her to tell the PSC commissioners to
deny NorthWestern Energy’s request to hide the details of doubling down on
coal. Montanans deserve to know what we will have to pay for coal and all
the other costs. The PSC should make NorthWestern Energy do a transparent
study comparing the costs with other electricity options, like wind and
solar, which are rapidly declining in price.
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