The Montana Climate Action Project is a collaboration of partners in Montana working to find solutions, create opportunities and empower people around the issue of climate change. Our goal is to provide Montana citizens with the information and tools they need to understand climate change and make personal changes that will have a positive effect on the climate change crisis.
News
Weather, low water keeping boats off lake
By Jordan Dawson, Bigfork Eagle, 6/26/08
Now that summer has officially arrived boat enthusiasts around the valley are eager to get out on the lake, but multiple weather related factors are making that difficult. The late snow and cold weather has forced the PPL, which operates Kerr Dam, to keep the lake level down due to flood risks from late snow run off. The late runoff has also caused more debris to be in the lake much later than usual.
Price of natural gas to be 'signficantly higher' this winter
Missoulian, 6/23/08
HELENA - The price for natural gas is hitting historic highs, and members of the Montana Public Service Commission worry it will continue to climb, translating into huge home-heating bills this winter. "We think we're approaching a crisis," said Commissioner Bob Raney, D-Livingston. "We know that the cost of gas this coming winter is going to be significantly higher than it was last winter, all across the country. We have to pay for it, or figure out how to use less."
Natural gas is used to heat more than 250,000 Montana homes. During the summer, demand for natural gas usually is low and prices are too. However, residential customers of NorthWestern Energy, the state's largest natural gas utility, are paying $14.91 per dekatherm for natural gas this month. That's well above last summer's price of $9 to $10, and about as high as prices have been in the past decade. During winter months, a household with natural gas heat may use 15 to 20 dekatherms. At current prices, that means a $300 monthly bill.
"Montana Meadows as Indicators of Climate Change”
By Laura Bell, Big Sky Weekly, 6/18/08
On Friday, June 27th, the Big Sky Institute (BSI) will cut the ribbon and officially open their new office in Westfork Meadows, next to the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce Building. The Big Sky Institute is a science, education and outreach institute created by Montana State University and the community of Big Sky. BSI’s goal is to better understand large intact ecosystems—like the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem—in order to better understand our changing world.
BSI programming wouldn’t be complete without the traditional Mountains & Minds lecture series, which kicks off on July 8th at the new BSI office. Join Professor Diane Debinski for her presentation of "Montane Meadows as Indicators of Climate Change.” This free lecture begins at 7 p.m. Diane Debinski is a professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University. She has done extensive research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, looking at topics from prairie restoration to species distribution in the mountains. She will talk about her local research and there will be ample opportunity for questions and discussion.
Foresters may extend 'let it burn' policy beyond wilderness areas
By Michael Jamison, Missoulian, 6/10/08
KALISPELL - Foresters looking to fight fire with fire have started looking beyond the boundaries of designated wilderness areas, and this summer will apply a sort of “let it burn” policy to public lands throughout northwest Montana.
They call it “wildland fire use” and this summer it could be used in the North Fork Flathead drainage above Columbia Falls, the Swan Range near Bigfork and the Mission Mountains.
While many wildfires will be fought, others can provide “a valuable tool for land managers,” said Steve Brady, Swan Lake district ranger for the Flathead National Forest. “Decisions to use naturally ignited fire as a tool for resource management objectives are made incident by incident, and only under certain conditions,” he said.
Gas Prices Hit Rural Northern Rockies, New Mexico
By Courtney Lowery, New West News, 6/9/08
Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico and Idaho are the hardest hit in the West by $4.00 gasoline, according to a study in today’s New York Times.
The study looks at percentage of income spent on gas, so rural areas in the Northern Rockies, Great Plains and southeast look the worst because of low median incomes and high use of vehicle travel. Most of Montanans spend 7-10 percent of their income on gas with one pocket in eastern Montana between 10-16 percent.
SDG&E will buy power from Montana wind farms
By Bruce V. Bigelow, San Diego Union Tribune, 6/6/08
San Diego Gas & Electric said yesterday it has signed power-purchase agreements with a renewable energy company for electricity generated from two soon-to-be-constructed wind farms in Montana. Under two 15-year contracts, Glacier Wind Energy will add 210 megawatts from wind energy facilities under development near Glacier National Park to SDG&E's total power-generating capacity.
With vast reserves, Montana eyes coal expansion
By Adam Tanner, 6/3/08
ABSALOKA MINE, Montana (Reuters) - Underneath Montana lies an estimated $1.5 trillion of coal, but with uncertainty about future environmental rules, investors are wary about opening new mines in the rugged Western U.S. state. Many say a big boost to Montana coal production can only follow November's national election, when a new president could lead the way in clarifying environmental laws and encouraging cleaner coal technology. Montana ends the long U.S. state-by-state presidential primary process on Tuesday.
"Nothing is going to happen until we have a carbon law, that's the bottom line," Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer told Reuters. "It needs a new president."
Act Now!
Climate change and you. What you can do now! The U.S. EPA recommends these few small changes in your home and yard that can lead to big reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and save money.
- Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
- Look for Energy Star products
- Heat and cool smartly
- Seal and insulate your home
- Use green power
- Reduce, reuse, recycle
- Be green in your yard
- Use water efficiently
- Spread the word
Learn more:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/downloads/wycd-home.pdf
