Victory Roundup
M
EIC continues to rack up victories for our clean and healthful environment. Many of these victories were legal victories that help build stronger regulations to protect • our clean air, clean water, and livable climate. We are equally proud, though, of the increase of our community engagement activities, thanks to our wonderful members and supporters (like you!). •
MEIC successfully helped convince the U.S. • Supreme Court to reject NorthWestern Energy’s attempt to stop new rules for toxic air pollution controls at the Colstrip plant.
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The U.S. and Canada agreed to an International Joint Commission (IJC) at the urging of Tribal and First Nation governments in Montana, Idaho, and British Columbia, and government agencies and NGOs, including MEIC. The IJC will investigate and develop solutions for extensive selenium water pollution flowing into Lake Koocanusa from Canadian coal mines.
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The Montana Supreme Court ruled in favor of MEIC, affirming a 2022 district court ruling that required NorthWestern Energy to pay a fine for failing to invest in Community Renewable Energy Projects (CREPs).
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The Bureau of Land Management announced that it will not issue new coal leases in the Powder
MEIC’s Deput y Director Derf Johnson testified in front of Congress t wice in 2024, advocating against corrupt mining companies.
River Basin, the largest coal-producing region in the U.S. MEIC and coalition partners doggedly pursued this end to federal leasing over three presidential administrations and several rounds of litigation – and will endeavor to protect it against future administrations. MEIC launched our Community Connectors Program to engage a handful of dedicated individuals who will act as advocates and liaisons between MEIC and the communities in which we work. In collaboration with our allies and supporters, MEIC helped thousands of Montanans across the state speak up for the environment in front of the Public Ser vice Commission, Legislative Inter i m Com m it tees, the Depar t ment of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and the Montana Consumer Counsel.
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MEIC successfully beat back a harmful state law passed in 2023 (HB 576) that weakened protections for our waterways from coal mining pollution th rough litigation, organizing, and the federal approval process.
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MEIC and our partners leveled oral arguments in front of the Montana Supreme Court twice this year, for the protection of the Smith River and to stop NorthWestern Energy’s methane plant near Laurel.
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In December, the Montana Supreme Court affirmed the major findings of Held v. State of Montana, a youth-led trial that relied on MEIC’s expertise and decades of our work with many of our allies’ on environmental advocacy in Montana.