100% Clean Electricity Initiative

The Green Power Program is a program that would allow NorthWestern Energy customers to support and benefit from a new source of renewable energy in Montana, such as a new wind or solar farm.

After the program is established, local governments, businesses and residents would have the option to subscribe some or all of their electricity use from this new renewable energy source.

Local governments and commercial and industrial NorthWestern Energy electric service customers could enter into long-term subscription agreements.

Local governments that participate may choose to allow their residents to sign up for annual residential subscriptions.

Participation for all subscribers – governments, commercial subscribers and residents – will be voluntary.

By subscribing to the program, customers would pay the costs of the new renewable energy source over time and receive the environmental benefits and the clean energy’s economic value on the market.

This is a direct way for subscribers to bring a large new clean energy resource onto the grid in Montana.

The City of Bozeman, the City of Missoula and Missoula County have worked with NorthWestern Energy for the past several years to develop the Green Power Program.

While many Green Power Programs (a.k.a. Green Tariffs in many other states) exist throughout the country, it would be a new rate structure in Montana. The Green Power Program represents a key strategy for the Lead Communities to advance their clean electricity goals.

Where small-scale development, like rooftop solar, may have site or size constraints, this development could be large enough to provide clean electricity to NorthWestern Energy commercial and industrial customers, as well as residential customers, including renters.

There are many people and businesses in our communities who want clean energy, and the Green Power Program would help provide that.

In summer 2026, the lead communities reached an important milestone by requesting their elected officials sign the Lead Community Agreement negotiated with NorthWestern Energy. This is a binding agreement between each community and NorthWestern Energy. It outlines roles and responsibilities for the communities and NorthWestern to work together to bring the Green Power Program to the Public Service Commission.

The Lead Community Agreement also includes specifics about the process for the communities and NorthWestern to develop a Request for Proposals to solicit proposals for the new renewable energy project.

Missoula County and the City of Missoula will hold a joint public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday, July 27, to vote on the Lead Community Agreement. Residents can attend the meeting in person in City Council chambers (140 W. Pine St.) or virtually via Microsoft Teams. The agenda and options to join online will be posted online at: https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/1149/AgendasWebcastsMinutes.

The communities and NorthWestern Energy would work together to file the Green Power Program with the PSC by Sept. 15, 2026 (that date is subject to change if all parties agree to move it).

Then, the PSC would need to approve the Green Power Program. (There is no legally required “approve by” date for the Commission’s approval.)

After PSC approval, the next steps would be soliciting potential subscription interest and then putting the project out to bid to select the clean energy project.