Victory Roundup
In 2022, you helped MEIC achieve many exciting victories for our health and the environment. Here are the highlights: • After nearly a decade of advocacy, • With urging from MEIC’s members and supporters, the State of Montana adopted litigation, and working with partners, the new, more energy efficient building codes Smith River is one step closer to protection from a damaging copper mine at its in June 2022, which will reduce carbon headwaters due to an April 2022 decision emissions in new buildings and enable by a Montana state judge. cities and counties to implement net-zero and solar-ready building zones. • With three new staff positions, MEIC has • A district court decision in May 2022 expanded its capacity requires NorthWestern Energy to pay for movement $2.5 million in fines to Montana’s Lowbuilding, working Income Energy Assistance Program due on land use and to its failure to purchase energy from sustainability issues, and helping raise Community Renewable Energy Projects public awareness and engagement in (CREPs). addressing the climate crisis. • In December, MEIC won a lawsuit that • Two 2022 Bull Mountain coal mine legal found the Rosebud coal mine expansion victories have impacted coal mining which was illegal due to damage to Colstrip area would cause the release of more than 190 waters, wildlife, and the climate. million tons of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.