Montana Power Podcast

A special Election Day special of the Montana Power Pod. Our Election Day panel (particle physicist Amit Roy and electrician and film maker Sean Kissinger) convenes to discuss the hyper partisan divide in America, the significance of the Bernie Sanders Movement, the importance of internationalism, and how we move forward.

On todays episode we interview Tom Woods, who is running as a Democrat for the open Public Service Commission seat in Montana's District 3. Tom previously served 4 terms in the Montana House of Representatives where he formed strong relationships with the PSC and legislators across the aisle. He is running to make North Western Energy more accountable to ratepayers, and aims to make energy conservation, and a transition to renewable energy a priority for the state.

We also talk about Dan's loss in the June primary, lessons learned and a path forward.

https://www.tomwoodsforpsc.com

Today on the show (and the day of the Montana primary!) we interview Emily LaShelle, a Sunrise Movement organizer from Bozeman, working with Sunrise National, to discuss the Green New Deal. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the hundreds of civil rights protests taking place across the United States, we wanted to hear from someone who could contextualize this moment and offer constructive solutions to our current predicament.

In this episode we welcome Jeff Smith… Max Smith’s dad. Jeff is the co-chair for 350 Montana, which aims to reduce atmospheric concentrations of CO2 by implementing strategic actions and advocating policies to end fossil fuel burning. In our conversation we discuss North Western Energy’s lack of vision, the vital role of the Public Service Commission, what good energy policy looks like (ahem Colorado), and the way forward.

https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/11/7/20951061/colorado-decarbonization-clean-energy-cheap-coal-electric-vehicles

Daniel Carlino, candidate for Public Service Commission District 4, doesn’t shy away from the activist message at the center of his campaign. In his interview with the Montana PostCast, he called for public ownership of utilities, an end to the corrupting influence of money in our politics, and an assertive approach designed to hold politicians accountable.

Carlino believes that the PSC can take the lead on climate justice and ensuring that public policy matches what the science tells us:

"We’re [working on changing] our politics on what’s politically acceptable to match up with what science is demanding that we do to stop the climate crisis and what justice is demanding that we do to uplift our fellow neighbors and really have some better equality in this country. So just being passionate about protecting our natural world and really just seeing the injustices in our political system has brought me to want to get involved and organize people and make sure that we come out the other side better after this election."

Asked about the experience he’d bring to the PSC, Carlino highlighted his education, climate advocacy, and his willingness to take on what he calls the “most corrupt political body in Montana”:

"My main experience has been studying into climate change studies into how our natural world works and our ecosystems and experience with organizing people and taking on corruption when we’re looking at the PSC. This is the most corrupt political body in Montana right now. They have been subservient to allowing these monopolies, especially Northwestern Energy, to run all over Montanans for their profit motives. And my experience with organizing campaigns to take the fossil fuel money out of our politics, organizing campaigns to help push for a green new deal and leave town halls to educate our community about what a green new deal would look like is the kind of experience that I’m bringing to the table."

A centerpiece of his campaign is a call for public ownership of utilities:

"The main reason I’m calling for [public ownership] is because we would do two things. One, people would save money by not having to give that 200 million dollars a year to Northwestern Energy and profits. The profit the profit margin will not be added on to people’s energy bills with public ownership. And the second one is that the majority of people don’t want dirty energy, if we have an option. Yes, everyone wants heat in their home and everybody needs reliable energy, But with public ownership, the public will have more of a say in the direction that we had rather than a for-profit company."

Asked about his prospects in a general election if he wins the primary, Carlino cited his ability to bring new voters and his experience canvassing:

"I think a lot of people, a lot of youth especially, well, they’ll vote in the general election, especially for this year, but they may not vote for PSC. They don’t understand what the PSC is. So I think trying to get out the youth vote is going to be one way that helps me. And if you also if you look at the kind of campaign I’ve been able to pull off already without very much money, you know, I’ve gotten over ten thousand dollars in in-kind donations. I have my team is all volunteer-based. So I think building that people power is also how we’re going to beat the Republicans with the backing of the Democratic Party and the Democratic voters along with using volunteer power."

For more from the interview, including discussions about clean energy proposals Carlino supports, his view on the Internet as a public utility, and more, please be sure to listen to the entire episode and subscribe to the Montana PostCast below. And for more information about Daniel’s campaign, be sure to visit his website, Facebook, and podcast page.

During his tenure in the Montana House of Representatives, David Ewer was a vocal opponent of the deregulation of the Montana Power Company. In this interview, we discuss the problems with deregulation, the pitfalls of investing in carbon producing power infrastructure and how the Public Service Commission can learn from past mistakes to better serve Montana ratepayers.

Over the past century, the community of Colstrip, Montana has been built around the booming energy coming from Colstrip's power plants. Coal power has allowed the economy of the Wild West to transform into what it is today, but it has come with consequences. While other investors in Colstrip are looking to pull out, Montana energy monopoly, Northwestern Energy is desperately wanting the approval of the PSC to purchase another 25% of Colstrip Unit 4 for $1, while concealing the costs of the coal power.

What will the future of Colstrip look like, and how can we guarantee a good living in the future for these fossil-fuel industry workers? In this episode, we interview the Mayor of Colstrip, John Williams. He tells us about the past, present, and future plans for the community of Colstrip and their power plants. Mayor Williams asks that lawmakers and the PSC approach Colstrip workers issues with compassion.

In this episode, we dive into the solution for getting us off of fossil-fuel energy: a giant, pumped storage hydro project. The CEO and project coordinator for this big wet battery is Carl Borgquist, the CEO of Absaroka Energy. Carl takes us through the ins and outs of how he is using water to make up for the base load power with his pumped storage project: the Gordon Butte.

As Northwestern Energy plans on digging deeper into a future of fossil-fuels, this renewable energy battery is on the market for cheaper, cleaner energy. Pumped storage hydro power is the future of energy storage, and Carl hopes for Northwestern Energy to invest in the future.

In the first episode of the Montana Power Podcast, we interview Christine Hallquist, the protagonist of the 2016 documentary Denial, a film which chronicles her struggles as a trans woman embracing her gender identity and her fight to implement a smart grid and renewable energy in Vermont as the CEO of the Vermont Electric Coop. The film serves as poignant metaphor for our country’s decades-long denial of climate change and our collective need to embrace hard truths in the coming years.

We first spoke with Christine way back in November (a much simpler time) to discuss the concept of a smart grid. As we were taking our sweet time figuring out the intricacies of creating a podcast the CoVi-19 pandemic hit. Faced with this new reality we decided to bring Christine back on to the podcast to discuss her experiences dealing with the fallout from Hurricane Katrina, her advice to young leaders like Dan and how we can move forward from here.