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Check Your Briefs

Knives are out in White House health care squabble

Dec. 11, 2019
ButteNews.net
The president's top two health care officials are fighting like cats and dogs, Politico reports.

They're on something

ButteNews.net
Nov. 19, 2019
South Dakota has launched a new ad campaign with a budget north of $400,000. The slogan is "Meth, we're on it." The state's press release begins, There is a meth problem in South Dakota, and we need everyone on it. See the website here: https://onmeth.com/

Like nuking a hurricane

ButteNews.net
Oct. 30, 2019
As the impeachment process chugs along, Vanity Fair's Bess Levin notes that the hurricane has been nuked.

Turkey moves into Syria

Oct 9, 2019
ButteNews.net
Turkey announced today that it is sending forces into Syria against US-backed Kurdish forces. President Trump called the move a "bad idea," reports the New York Times. The move was made possible when the President announced that US forces embedded with the Kurds were being recalled. Turkey and the US are part of the NATO alliance.

Diahann Carroll dies at 84

October 4, 2019
Butte - Award winning, trailblazing actress Diahann Carroll has died at age 84. Her daughter, Suzanne Kay informed the AP that her mother had died in Los Angeles of cancer, says NBC Boston.

City Desk

Top news for Thursday, December 12, 2019

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Thursday, December 12, 2019 - A House Committee begins debate on articles of impeachment; Washington state is set to launch a paid family, medical leave program; advocates for refugees say disinformation clouds their case; and a new barrier to abortion in Kentucky.

2020 talks for Thursday, December 12, 2019

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Thursday, December 12, 2019 - Today’s the deadline to qualify for this month’s debate, and entrepreneur Andrew Yang made it - the only non-white candidate who’ll be on stage. Plus, former Secretary Julián Castro questions the order of primary contests.

MT ratepayers rebel against utility fossil fuel investments

Big Sky Connection:

Helena, MT – Montana ratepayers rally today (Monday) at a Public Service Commission (PSC) hearing for Northwestern Energy's energy resource plan. The 20-year plan includes keeping Colstrip open until 2042 and opening four natural gas plants. Comments from Jeff Smith, co-chair, 350 Montana; and Mike Scott, senior campaign representative, Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign in Montana.

Most of the utilities that co-own the Colstrip, Mont., power plant say they will pull out of the facility within the
next eight years. (Rachel Cernansky/Flickr)
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Eric Tegethoff

December 9, 2019

HELENA, Montana - Montanans plan to rally in Helena against Northwestern Energy's 20-year plan to invest heavily in fossil fuels.

The Public Service Commission holds two public hearings Monday on Northwestern Energy's resource procurement plan, which includes its intention to run the Colstrip coal plant through 2042 and build four natural gas plants.

It doesn't include any investments in renewable energy sources.

Jeff Smith co-chairs the climate action group 350 Montana, which is organizing the Ratepayers Rebellion Rally. He notes the utility company's vice president recently said all of Colstrip's units would be retired "within a decade."

"So, which is it?" he questions. "Is the Colstrip plant going to be open until 2042, or is the vice president correct in saying that Colstrip is going to close down within the decade? That's a big issue."

Most of Colstrip's owners - utilities in Idaho, Oregon and Washington - are pulling out or predict they'll stop relying on the plant within the next eight years.

Smith says more than 100 people are expected at the Helena rally, with some arriving on buses from Bozeman, Billings and Missoula, beginning at noon. The first PSC public hearing begins at 1:30 p.m.

Northwestern Energy says investment in Colstrip and natural gas is cheaper than in renewables.

Mike Scott, senior campaign representative with the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign in Montana, says relying on fossil fuels is a dangerous gamble for the planet.

"The reality is, we are facing a climate crisis right now, and throwing new fossil fuels into the mix that we could get attached to as rate-paying customers for 20 or 30 years is really going backwards in terms of trying to address the crisis we're facing," he states.

Smith adds Northwestern Energy hasn't done a comprehensive study of the cost of renewables. He maintains the economics of solar and wind look more favorable than either coal or natural gas.

"We're a climate action group, and we think that they should give wind and solar in Montana - given the resources, the natural resources that we have - a fair shake," he stresses.