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Monday, April 24th, 2017

Montana Legislature shuns solar power

Author:     HENRY DYKEMA
Source:     Billings Gazette (Montana)
Publication Date:     Apr 19, 2017
Link: Montana Legislature shuns solar power
Stephan:   Once again, a Red value state legislature has voted to go backwards, voted to preserve the interests of corporate carbon energy at the expense of the wellbeing the citizens of that state. Way to go Montana Republicans. Do you think the people of Montana will vote against their own self-interest in 2018? Based on past election data I would say yes.

Credit: Thom Bridge/Independent Record

Our legislators, the folks we elected to represent us, are leaving Helena having missed a huge opportunity to create good jobs and advance the personal freedom of Montana families, small businesses and communities. Rather than seizing the opportunity presented by solar energy, the Legislature chose to hamstring a promising industry and limit energy freedom.

There seems to be a vision problem in Helena. The Legislature failed to recognize solar energy as a serious and growing player in energy markets and that Montanans stand to benefit handsomely if we embrace this new world. The solar industry created 51,000 jobs nationally in 2016. That amounts to one out of every 50 jobs added in the United States. Unfortunately, Montana misses out on this opportunity.

This session has shown, yet again, the outsized influence the utility has over state energy policy. Thousands of Montanans weighed in this session in support of the Solar Jobs and Energy Freedom Act, and then watched NorthWestern Energy kill this proactive legislation that would […]

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1 Comment

  1. Mark R on Monday, April 24, 2017 at 7:58 am

    Regulated monopolies need to go. Montana of all places should be galloping with solar & energy independence.