NorthWestern Energy gets pass on Montana law requiring support of small renewable energy projects

For five years in row, NorthWestern Energy has been given a pass for not complying with a state law requiring the utility to build or buy renewable energy projects for its generation lineup.

The latest waiver came last month as Montana’s Public Service Commission issued a final order forgiving the state’s largest electricity and gas provider for not living up to the law in 2015 and 2016. NorthWestern also has not made good on the law in 2017, nor 2018 so far, but waivers for not doing so come years later.

At issue is Montana’s law that regulated utilities invest in Community Renewable Energy Projects, or CREPs. The law is supposed to spur construction of smaller renewable energy projects across the state, as part of a bigger plan requiring utilities to get a small percentage of their electricity from renewable energy projects.

TOM LUTEY [email protected]

https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/northwestern-energy-gets-pass-on-montana-law-requiring-support-of/article_3195fce9-f83a-5700-bb1f-78fb4caf34a1.html