Montana Public Service Commission

But the study also finds that zoning can't fix everything and that the county indeed does not have the authority to address all of the potential impacts of data centers.

So it also recommends being involved at the Montana Public Service Commission.

We already are to some degree and potential strategic engagement at the state legislature as well.

And there is, I mean, the study also allows for a path forward.

I'm Dennis Bragg.

The Montana Public Service Commission is under fire again, this time from groups that say the regulatory agency isn't taking climate change into account as it considers energy projects.

Peter Christian brings us the details.

Seventeen organizations, including health care providers and clean energy advocates, have filed a lawsuit against the Montana Public Service Commission.

The legal challenge comes after regulators rejected a petition asking the commission to consider climate change when making decisions about electric and gas utilities.

The groups argue that the commission has a constitutional duty under Montana law to protect residents by weighing climate costs and greenhouse gas emissions, rather than passing the expenses of costly fossil fuel projects onto utility customers.

I'm Peter Christian.

Seventeen organizations, including healthcare providers and clean energy advocates, have filed a lawsuit against the Montana Public Service Commission.

The legal challenge comes after regulators rejected a petition asking the commission to consider climate change when making decisions about electric and gas utilities.

The groups argue that the commission has a constitutional duty under Montana law to protect residents by weighing climate costs and greenhouse gas emissions, rather than passing the expenses of costly fossil fuel projects onto utility customers.

Next, the Montana PSC lawsuit.

17 organizations, including Earthjustice, the Western Environmental Law Center, and the Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, filed suit against the Montana Public Service Commission, seeking a ruling that the PSC has a constitutional duty to consider climate change costs and risks when regulating gas and electric utilities.

This follows the PSC's September resolution rejecting a petition from the same groups asking the Commission to recognize that obligation.

Plaintiffs point to the PSC's approval of Northwestern Energy's recovery of costs for the 175-megawatt Yellowstone County generating station as an example of decisions they allege have increased ratepayer exposure to climate-related costs.