For fifty years Northern Plains has been working to ensure that the voices of individual Montanans can be heard and everyday people will always be able to make a difference in how we treat our land, water, and climate. Learn more about how we work, how we win, and the people that make us effective.
We believe that true prosperity begins with healthy land, water, and air. Learn more about the ways we are protecting Montana’s natural resources and working landscapes through the variety of issues we tackle everyday.
We are from the plains and mountains, cities and towns. We are everyday Montanans who love where we live. Learn more about our local groups organizing in communities across Montana.
The actions we take today will determine the world that our children and grandchildren inherit. Working together, right now, we can ensure true prosperity for generations to come. Find out how you can support our mission today!
In late 2020, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality was tasked to finalize plans for the cleanup of Colstrip’s coal ash ponds which leak 183 million gallons of contaminated water each year. This document provides information about this process including data about the job creation potential of a “high and dry” cleanup approach that involves excavation of the ash ponds. It also provides information about the danger this contamination presents to ranchers and others who rely on local groundwater, making responsible cleanup imperative to the long-term health of the community.
We know from our research that thorough coal ash cleanup (“high and dry”) is the best way to permanently address groundwater contamination. We also know this type of cleanup creates more jobs than simply leaving it in place (“cap-in-place”). But how many jobs does it create…and how much does it cost? Using data from Montana-licensed economists, hydrologists, and engineers, Doing it Right II: Job Creation through Colstrip cleanup provides answers to those questions. Here’s an overview.
In 2018, we partnered with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1638 to research the job creation potential associated with coal ash cleanup. Here are the key takeaways from the 93-page case study analysis.
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