NorthWestern Energy and Montana Cities Seek Green Power Program Approval

NorthWestern Energy, Missoula, Missoula County and Bozeman jointly asked the Montana Public Service Commission to approve a voluntary Green Power Program. The proposal would let participating communities, businesses and residential customers support development of a new Montana renewable-energy resource and pursue local sustainability goals. It includes a proposed tariff, subscription agreements, customer forms, eligibility rules, cost-recovery mechanisms, customer protections and administrative procedures. The partners emphasized that only subscribers would bear the program’s additional costs, ensuring nonparticipating customers are not charged. Local officials and NorthWestern described the filing as a milestone following years of collaboration and said they are awaiting the commission’s review.