Energy Advocates Weigh State Contracts

The Billings Gazette reports that Montana’s largest utility and renewable energy advocates are weighing legal options now that the state’s controversial new energy contract terms are final. NorthWestern Energy and the Montana Environmental Information Center told The Gazette this week that the latest price-setting contract terms created by the state Public Service Commission were unworkable.

Opponents say the concern is that the contracts durations are too short for energy developers to recover development costs. Brian Fadie, the clean energy program director for Montana Environmental Information Center, said [quote] “Damn right we’re going to appeal,” [end quote] He added that solar energy companies are still interested in doing business in Montana, despite 18 months of what Fadie described as questionable decisions by state regulators.

Among the projects affected is a $110 million solar farm proposed for 480 acres north of Billings.