Read our recent notes from the field – stories of community organizing across Montana.

Tom Heyneman: Continuing a family legacy on the Bench Ranch

Tom Heyneman: Continuing a family legacy on the Bench Ranch

Tom Heyneman is continuing a family legacy on the Bench Ranch and through his leadership at Northern Plains.

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Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day

On October 9th, the second Monday of October, along with Montanans across the state, Northern Plains is celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day. Indigenous Peoples' Day...
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Billings gets $1M for tree cover

Billings gets $1M for tree cover

Earlier this month, the US Forest Service announced that the City of Billings will receive $1 million in federal funds to design and implement...
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NorthWestern’s newest energy roadmap leads to a dead end

NorthWestern’s newest energy roadmap leads to a dead end

NorthWestern Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is released every few years to serve as a roadmap for future power production and a preview of...
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Challenging a rate case built on falsehoods (Part I)

Challenging a rate case built on falsehoods (Part I)

Montana Power Company – Northwestern Energy’s predecessor as the primary electric utility in Montana – owned 30% of Colstrip Units 3 and 4.In 1974,...
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DEQ’s oversight failures in the Bull Mountains creates crisis for ranchers

DEQ’s oversight failures in the Bull Mountains creates crisis for ranchers

As many of you know, Signal Peak Energy, the operator of the Bull Mountains Mine near Roundup, has been a reckless company. Signal Peak...
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Melissa Holt: Deep roots and deep love for eastern Montana

Melissa Holt: Deep roots and deep love for eastern Montana

Melissa Holt was born and raised in Glendive. She lives in the home her maternal grandparents bought after moving to the Montana town generations...
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Rallying for our constitutional right to have a voice in energy decisions

Rallying for our constitutional right to have a voice in energy decisions

Last week, dozens of Northern Plains members gathered on the Yellowstone County Courthouse lawn to rally for our right to have a say about NorthWestern Energy’s methane-fired power plant in Laurel.

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What do Laurel residents think about NorthWestern’s polluting power plant?

What do Laurel residents think about NorthWestern’s polluting power plant?

Last week, eighteen members of Northern Plains took to the sidewalks in Laurel, canvassing neighborhoods to speak with local residents about the methane-fired power...
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Northern Plains ranchers lobby for COOL, livestock policy reforms in D.C.

Northern Plains ranchers lobby for COOL, livestock policy reforms in D.C.

Member-ranchers Steve Charter (Shepherd) and Gilles Stockton (Grass Range) joined ranchers from other Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) groups in Wyoming and North...
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Finding common ground at the Small Town Summit

Finding common ground at the Small Town Summit

Northern Plains joined over 250 other rural organizers and grassroots groups at the first ever Small Town Summit, hosted by United Today, Stronger Tomorrow,...
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IRA clean energy funding is coming our way!

IRA clean energy funding is coming our way!

The Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law last summer, will work to reduce United States’ greenhouse gas emissions by up to 44% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. Lucky for us, the IRA includes some substantial clean energy benefits for Montana residents and businesses to help us get there.

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