Montanans want more solar, natural gas development, are less interested in new coal plants
The poll results on Montana’s energy mix come as politicians and policymakers grapple with surging electricity demand spurred by investment in artificial intelligence and the data centers that support it.
Latest Environmental Reporting
BLM nominee talks land sales, local management in Senate confirmation hearing
CWD is spreading in Montana. Will deer and elk populations decline as a result?
Snowmobiler dies in avalanche near Montana-Idaho border
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MORE ENVIRONMENTAL COVERAGE
EPA finalizes repeal of emissions rule that could have forced Colstrip’s closure
The U.S. Environmental Protection Act’s announcement comes amid a suite of changes the agency has adopted to reverse former President Joe Biden’s climate and public health initiatives.
Avalanche forecasters warn of ‘considerable’ slide risks after late-winter storm
After minimal snowfall across Montana most of the winter, the arrival of a heavy storm this week has led avalanche forecasters to warn recreators about “considerable” slide risks across several mountain ranges.
Daines gains federal support to strip wilderness potential from Montana sites
Forest Service, BLM officials concur: WSA status not warranted for Middle Fork Judith, Wales Creek and Hoodoo landscapes.
As AI investors eye Montana for new data centers, communities brace for water impacts
What we know about data center projects proposed in the Butte and Broadview areas as Montanans pack into standing-room-only venues to learn about water, electricity impacts.
Many Montana cities record historically warm winter temperatures
An analysis of National Weather Service data by Montana Free Press found that most Montana cities experienced unusually warm temperatures during the 2025-26 season. In many communities, average highs from November through January approached or set historic highs, reflecting a broader shift in winter climate conditions with tangible statewide impacts.
Effort to loosen water quality standards is back before federal court — again
The lawsuit, filed on Jan. 26, 2026, is the latest chapter in a decade-long tug-of-war over water quality standards for nitrogen and phosphorus, which can contribute to algal blooms that harm aquatic life.
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MORE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING
Bureau of Land Management revokes American Prairie bison leases
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced Jan. 16 that it is revoking seven grazing permits in Phillips County that American Prairie had been using to sustain its herd of bison.
NorthWestern Energy now owns an extra 592 megawatts of Colstrip. What’s its plan for doubling down on coal?
What we know about data centers, electricity costs and the future of Montana’s largest power plant following NorthWestern’s acquisition of nearly 600 megawatts of coal-fired power.
Constitutional climate litigation lands before 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
A 19-year-old Montana woman named Eva Lighthiser is the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to block a trio of President Donald Trump’s executive orders that aim to “unleash American energy” by prioritizing the role of fossil fuels in the United States’ energy mix.
Two-thirds of Montana’s private land is in the hands of a few thousand owners
A study published in Environmental Management in December 2025 found that roughly 4,000 landowners control two-thirds of the private land in Montana, giving them an outsized impact on wildlife habitat and public recreational access. University of Montana social scientist Alexander Metcalf said his analysis of land ownership records also demonstrated a rise in nonresidents controlling…
Montana Supreme Court denies Held plaintiffs’ bid to block laws enacted by 2025 Legislature
In an order issued Dec. 23, 2025, a five-justice majority of the Montana Supreme Court denied a petition by plaintiffs from the landmark Held v. Montana constitutional climate case. Rikki Held and 12 co-plaintiffs had asked the justices to block a trio of laws, passed by the Montana Legislature earlier this year, that address the…
The year on the water, wildlife, energy, climate and public lands beat
It was a chaotic year on the water, wildlife, energy, climate and public lands beat, and 2026 is expected to bring more news regarding data centers, grizzly bears and wild weather.
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