Montana Could Give Customers A New Choice For Renewable Energy

Proposal Would Let Customers Pay For Renewable Energy

Whenever a new project is proposed, one of the biggest questions is, "Who's going to pay for it?"

Well, what if there was a way for you to eventually be involved in a new Montana power project without making people who don't participate pay for it? That's the idea behind a new proposal from NorthWestern Energy, Missoula, and Bozeman.

How Montana's Green Power Program Would Work

The groups have asked the Montana Public Service Commission to approve a voluntary "Green Power Program." It would give residents, businesses, and communities a way to support the development of a new renewable energy resource in Montana.

But here's the part that could make this appealing to a lot of people: If you don't want to be part of it, you don't have to be.

Only the people who choose to participate would pay the costs associated with the program, meaning those who don't sign up wouldn't be on the hook for it.

According to Montana Right Now, the proposal lays out everything from subscription agreements and customer forms to rules for how the program would operate and how the costs would be recovered.

Nick Northern TSM-GF

What Happens If The Montana PSC Approves The Green Power Program

If the PSC approves the program and enough customers sign up, NorthWestern would then ask energy companies to submit proposals for a new renewable energy generation project somewhere in Montana.

So we're still a long way from this becoming a reality, but this could eventually give people another option when it comes to how their electricity is generated.

For some people, everything changes. For others, nothing changes.

And honestly, I think that's the interesting part of this proposal. You get the option to pay a little more money for something you want, while making sure the people who don't want to participate aren't stuck with the bill.