NORTHERN PLAINS RESOURCE COUNCIL
Programs
Clean Energy Advocacy and Support
Clean Energy: We elevated the voices of Montanans impacted by Montana-Dakota Utilities' proposed 19.2% increase and reduced the final increase to 9.1% which saved Eastern Montanans over $4.5M. We worked with the Montana Facilities Finance Authority to bring the total number of counties adopting CPACE to 12 and helped another five counties start the process. In conjunction with our affiliates, our Solarize campaigns have helped 300 residences in Montana through solar assessments which resulted in over 120 installations and increased the total solar installed through our efforts to over 700kw. We recruited, trained, and supported two candidates for rural electric co-op boards. Our work kept one co-op from effectively ending net metering and helped another raise its cap on installation size and adopt a more consumer-friendly true-up policy. Finally, we coordinated powerful member testimony at climate policy listening sessions hosted by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and stood up for DEQ's authority to reject permits that infringe upon our constitutionally-protected right to a clean and healthful environment.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$339.9KOil and Gas Community Advocacy
Oil & Gas: We amplified the voices of concerned Laurel community members to combat NorthWestern Energy's methane-fired power plant on the banks of the Yellowstone River. We generated an outpouring of letters to the editor in opposition to the zoning changes required for the plant to become operational and we flooded the Montana DEQ with hundreds of comments about the plant's dangerous pollution during the public comment period. We conducted a canvass in Laurel to provide information about the proposed plant and learn more about community concerns and attitudes toward the plan, then organized people to push the Laurel City/County Planning Board to reject efforts to rezone the land where the plant was built. We also continued our efforts to stop air pollution from orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells in Montana. We helped the state secure $25M in federal funding to plug identified orphaned wells across the state, roughly half of which were completed in 2023 and the rest should be complete by fall of 2024. We oversaw the finalization of the EPA's Methane Rule which aimed to cut 80% of methane emissions from oil and gas development over the next 15 years.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$230.9KCoal Transition Community Support
Coal Transition: We petitioned the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement to investigate Signal Peak Energy's ongoing violations, finances, and legality of cancelling long-held grazing leases near the longwall mine they operate in the Bull Mountains. We filed a formal complaint against Signal Peak with the Montana DEQ requesting investigation into the company's ongoing violations and, following inaction, we requested the DEQ revoke Signal Peak Energy's mining permit. We expanded our membership base in the Bull Mountains and developed a strategy to ensure area ranchers and communities are well-informed and can plan around the mine's activities, trajectory, and timeframe.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$209.7K
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