Northwestern to offer Tags-Based Green Power Program in Montana

On June 25, NorthWestern Energy announced that it would purchase green tags from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) for resale to residential and business customers in Montana. BEF will provide NorthWestern Energy with tags from wind facilities located in Washington, Oregon, and Wyoming.

"NorthWestern Energy becomes the seventh utility in the region to offer BEF green tags to their retail customers," noted BEF president, Angus Duncan. "It’s because BEF gives those customers an immediate opportunity to support green power-more new wind, solar, and other renewables in the ground generating clean power."

"We selected BEF for our E+ GREEN program because of their experience in providing green tags that fit with the renewable energy perspectives of the region. The "Green-E" certified product they provide for us to offer through E+ GREEN comes primarily from new wind and solar projects in Wyoming, and the Pacific Northwest," stated Pat Corcoran, vice president of regulatory affairs for NorthWestern Energy. "We’re also pleased that BEF has committed to investing in new renewable energy projects in Montana in the future.

"Our commitment to Montana will grow stronger," pledged Duncan. "BEF is actively seeking new solar and wind projects in Montana from which we can deliver locally-sourced green tags to NorthWestern Energy customers."

All of BEF’s net revenues from its green tags sales are reinvested into building additional renewable energy resources throughout the Northwest. Along with supporting utility-scale wind energy, an additional 150 kW of electricity from new solar resources has been installed by BEF and its partners. Together with its watershed program, BEF has committed over one million dollars to environmental projects across the Pacific Northwest.