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Public commenters split on costs and utility motives as Missoula advances Green Power Program
Summary
Public comment during the joint meeting included opponents who raised cost and land‑use concerns and environmental and community groups who urged approval as a necessary step toward Missoula's 100% clean electricity goal. Speakers questioned Northwestern Energy's past planning and pushed staff for rate fairness at the PSC.
Public comment spanned a wide range of views as the city and county considered signing lead‑community agreements.
Brandy Atanasoff criticized the program's potential fiscal impact and raised an estimated project cost and land footprint: "This project will require obtaining and maintaining around 1 square mile of land... This project will cost anywhere between 30 to $50,000,000 when it is done," she said, urging the council to consider county sentiment and fiscal exposure. Those figures were presented as a public concern but were not advanced by staff, who said exact project size, location and cost will be determined through the RFP process.
By contrast, Judy Matson (reading for Gary Matson) urged approval, saying the program "would contribute significantly to achieving the city‑county goal of 100% clean energy for the Missoula urban area by 2030," and called renewables the least expensive generation resource if paired with storage. Environmental advocates also spoke in support: Shannon James of the Montana Environmental Information Center thanked staff and said the GPP is a "meaningful step" toward Missoula's goals but urged monitoring of subscriber rates as the PSC review proceeds.
The Sierra Club's Caitlin Pizercia welcomed the LCA approval but criticized Northwestern Energy's prior integrated resource planning and lobbying, arguing regulators have not corrected biased modeling that favors fossil resources. "We are concerned that Northwestern Energy could use this plan to further push the lie that renewables are somehow at odds with safe, reliable, and affordable service," she said, calling for vigilance during PSC proceedings.
Speakers in favor highlighted community collaboration and access: Jackson Crawford (business and Sunrise Rotary) said the GPP "would open the doors for Missoula to truly achieve our ambitious climate and sustainability goals" and framed the project as an economic and planning benefit for the region.
The record shows both substantive opposition and sustained support; staff and elected officials repeatedly noted that financial commitments and project details will be decided later in the RFP and subscription stages.
