More than 40 interest groups and Montana businesses are petitioning the state’s utility regulators to consider climate change when making decisions. They filed the request Wednesday.
Environmental organizations, breweries, ski resorts, college students, doctors and more filed the petition. The groups are asking Montana’s Public Service Commission to measure the social costs of greenhouse gas and climate impacts as part of their regulatory work.
Michael Hudson, with one of the environmental groups, says the agency has a large role to play in Montana’s emissions as the regulators of companies that use coal and other fossil fuels to generate power.
"It is just common sense that they consider climate in their decisions," Hudson says.
Under state law, the public can petition any state agency with a request to adopt new rules or change existing ones.
A lawyer for the PSC said they are reviewing the petition but have no comment at this time.
This petition comes as the Montana Supreme Court is considering the extent to which the state Constitution’s “clean and healthful environment” applies to climate change.
The PSC now has 60 days to consider whether it will deny the petition or begin the rulemaking process.
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State environmental regulators have submitted a list of proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The list and its last minute changes were turned into the federal government late last week.
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State environmental regulators have submitted a climate action plan to the federal government.
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This is the second in our series about how Montana is responding to climate change. The state doesn't have a climate action plan, but that doesn't mean nothing is happening on the ground. Here's what cities and tribes in Montana are doing to adapt to and mitigate climate change.
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Mining and coal interests signal opposition to landmark climate ruling. A handful of Montana non-profits will share millions of dollars of state money in support of homeless and emergency shelters.
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State environmental regulators are writing up a statewide Climate Action Plan. Once completed, it will make Montana eligible to apply for millions in federal funding to address climate pollution.
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The federal government has over $4 billion to give states, tribes and cities, to fight climate change. Montana’s plan is available for public comment, but is incomplete.