Montana PSC head vows to kill power line project


NFPA 70E Training

Our customized live online or in‑person group training can be delivered to your staff at your location.

  • Live Online
  • 6 hours Instructor-led
  • Group Training Available
Regular Price:
$199
Coupon Price:
$149
Reserve Your Seat Today
A southern Montana member of the state Public Service Commission is vowing to kill a proposed NorthWestern Energy transmission line into Idaho, saying it will be used to drain power from Montana for use in other states.

Brad Molnar, a Republican from Laurel, says Montana customers will wind up buying power on the open market from states where it's more expensive to produce, such as California.

NorthWestern officials have said the $1 billion, 430-mile power line, which is still a half decade away from completion, at the earliest, is intended to ship power from new, renewable-energy projects, including wind farms.

This is just the latest setback for NorthWestern, which federal regulators have already slowed on concerns over how the company structured the deal and after a utility, PPL Montana, complained the project aims to gain a monopoly influence over transmission in the state.

Related News

BC residents split on going nuclear for electricity generation: survey

BC Energy Debate: Nuclear Power and LNG divides British Columbia, as a new survey weighs…
View more

Covid-19 crisis hits solar and wind energy industry

COVID-19 Impact on US Renewable Energy disrupts solar and wind projects, dries up tax equity…
View more

Ontario Businesses To See Full Impact of 2021 Electricity Rate Reductions

Ontario Comprehensive Electricity Plan delivers Global Adjustment reductions for industrial and commercial non-RPP customers, lowering…
View more

Gov. Greg Abbott touts Texas power grid's readiness heading into fall, election season

ERCOT Texas Fall Grid Forecast outlines ample power supply, planned maintenance outages, and grid reliability,…
View more

N.S. joins Western Climate Initiative for tech support for emissions plan

Nova Scotia Cap-and-Trade Program joins Western Climate Initiative to leverage emissions trading IT systems, track…
View more

SC nuclear plant on the mend after a leak shut down production for weeks

V.C. Summer nuclear plant leak update: Dominion Energy repaired a valve in the reactor cooling…
View more

Sign Up for Electricity Forum’s Newsletter

Stay informed with our FREE Newsletter — get the latest news, breakthrough technologies, and expert insights, delivered straight to your inbox.

Electricity Today T&D Magazine Subscribe for FREE

Stay informed with the latest T&D policies and technologies.
  • Timely insights from industry experts
  • Practical solutions T&D engineers
  • Free access to every issue

Download the 2026 Electrical Training Catalog

Explore 50+ live, expert-led electrical training courses –

  • Interactive
  • Flexible
  • CEU-cerified