Year in Review
A look back at the top MTFP stories of 2019
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From the 66th Montana Legislature to the 2020 elections, it’s been a news-filled year.
Energy
NorthWestern says it’s running short on power. Climate activists say we’re running out of time.
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The utility’s new 20-year energy plan catches the Public Service Commission in the crossfire.
Public Service Commission
PSC attorney: Commissioners showed bias about solar projects — but not too much
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Solar advocates have argued that Montana’s elected Public Service Commissioners, all Republicans, have created a hostile environment for solar development by setting rates too low for solar farms to be economically viable.
Energy
Utility commissioner criticizes judge who found panel biased against solar development
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Public Service Commissioner Roger Koopman said he believes a judge overseeing a solar rate case likely “came to his ruling on the basis of bias.”
Energy
Citing newspaper op-eds, judge finds Montana utility regulators biased against solar development
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Public Service Commissioner guest columns critical of renewable energy create a due process violation in solar rate case, judge rules
2019 Legislature
Bill to give NorthWestern Energy more power over Colstrip rapidly advancing in the Legislature
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A bill that would allow NorthWestern Energy to take control of the Colstrip power plant with scaled-back oversight of the Public Service Commission, is moving through the Legislature at lightning speed.
Bill Gallagher
Kavulla ousts PSC chairman in coup
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In yet another bizarre twist at the Montana Public Service Commission, Commissioner Travis Kavulla, a Republican, sided with Democrats Gail Gutsche and John Vincent to remove fellow Republican commissioner Bill Gallagher from the chairmanship. Kavulla then took over as chairman of the board that regulates the state’s utilities by a 3-2 vote.