In August, a district court ruled DEQ must factor in climate impacts and greenhouse gas emissions while evaluating projects under the Montana Environmental Policy Act, or MEPA. The ruling came from the youth-led climate case Held v. Montana.
A working group tasked with reworking MEPA has published draft recommendations. But members disagree over how to conduct climate analyses.
Gordon Criswell from Talen Energy which operates Colstrip says agencies should only analyze a project’s direct greenhouse gas emissions.
"I believe indirect effects are difficult to quantify and are likely to result in double counting of emissions."
Other members say the group's recommendations don’t fairly balance the economic benefits of a proposed project with its contributions to climate change.
Anne Hedges, with the Montana Environmental Information Center, criticized Criswell’s argument.
"We believe that the full suite of emissions need to be accounted for. The idea that some people have mentioned, that we should only be looking at the direct emissions from diesel trucks traveling on a coal mine, when in fact all that coal has no other purpose other than to be burned, means that you are missing the majority of the impacts."
The Supreme Court in July will hear the state’s appeal of the Held case.
The Court’s ruling, and the 2025 legislative session could impact the suggestions the working group puts forward.
The working group will meet on June 27 to discuss its final recommendations.
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Montana's Constitution says citizens have the right to a "clean and healthful environment." Does that mean the state is obligated to address climate change? A group of youth plaintiffs went to court to find out. Catch up on the story with this timeline of major developments in the Held v. Montana case. -
Montana’s Supreme Court this week heard oral arguments in the state’s appeal of a lower court ruling in the youth-led climate case Held v Montana. Sixteen young people are suing Montana for failing to act on climate change. They say that the state's fossil fuel friendly policies are violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment.
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The Montana Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week in the appeal of the youth-led climate case Held v. Montana. Sixteen youth plaintiffs sued the state — and won — for violating their constitutional right to a clean environment by failing to address climate change. -
Montana Supreme Court schedules oral arguments in youth-led climate case Held v. Montana -
The Montana Supreme Court has heard opening arguments in a case that asks if state regulators should consider climate change in their decisions. The case centers on the permitting of a methane-fired power plant. -
A working group tasked with reviewing and updating Montana’s Environmental Policy Act is beginning to draft recommendations. -
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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The state of Montana has filed its appeal to the Supreme Court over a youth-led climate case.
