Climate Fast Facts: Montana

Climate and Energy Resources

• Latest Climate Science (Union of Concerned Scientists)
• Global Warming & Montana (National Wildlife Federation)
• Cost of Delay (Environmental Defense Fund)
• Meeting the International Clean Energy and Climate Change Challenges (The White House)

Jobs

An investment in clean energy could be a major boon for Montana's economy. The state could realize 6,000 jobs and $460 million in investnment revenue if a $150 billion investment in clean energy was made nationwide, reducing Montana's unemployment rate by 1.3 percent.

• Clean-Energy Investments Create Jobs in Montana (Center for American Progress/PERI)
• Green Prosperity: How Clean-Energy Policies Can Fight Poverty and Raise Living Standards in Montana (Natural Resources Defense Council & Green For All)
• Green Prosperity: Billings, MT (Natural Resources Defense Council & Green For All)
• Clean Energy and Climate Policies Lead to Economic Growth in Montana (Environmental Entrepreneurs)

Opportunity

A nationwide investment in green infrastructure of $100 billion over the next two years could yield 456 jobs in solar power and 433 in wind power for Montana. That's 752 more jobs than an equivalent investment in fossil fuels would create.

• ACES Funding for Efficiency Investments-MT (Environment Northeast)

• Charting a New Path for Montana’s Electricity Generation and Use (National Wildlife Federation)
• The Clean Energy Economy: Montana (Pew Environment Group)
• Renewable Energy Works: Montana

Cut Costs

The average family in Montana would save $4.72 per month on their energy bills and $8.79 per month on vehicle fuel costs if the American Clean Energy and Security Act was enacted.

• Climate Bill Cuts Electricity Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• Climate-Protection Policies Cut Fuel Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• Summary of Competitiveness Provisions in ACES (Center for Clean Air Policy)
• Analysis of Allowances to States, Energy Consumers Under HR 2454 (World Resources Institute)
• Carbon Cap Critics Predict Healthy Economy in Montana under Cap-and-Trade (PERI/UMASS)
• Cumulative Natural Gas & Electricity Savings from a National RES (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Climate Consequences

If the climate crisis is not addressed, Montana's wildfire frequency and intensity will increase, destroying hundreds of thousands  of acres and costing the state millions. The overall area burned is expected to double by late this century across 11 western states if the average summertime temperature increases 2.9 Fahrenheit, and Montana will be hit particularly hard.

• Protecting Montana’s Economy, Communities and Environment from Global Warming (The Wilderness Society)

• Climate Change Impacts on the Northwest: Montana Case Study (World Wildlife Fund)

• Increased Risk of Catastrophic Wildfires: Global Warming’s Wake-Up Call for the Western United States (National Wildlife Federation)
• Global Climate Change Impacts in the Great Plains (U.S. Global Change Research Program)
• Global Climate Change Impacts on the U.S.: Great Plains Assessment (Union of Concerned Scientists)
• Global Climate Change Impacts in the Northwest (U.S. Global Change Research Program)
• Global Climate Change Impacts on the U.S.: Northwest Assessment (Union of Concerned Scientists)
• Hotter Fields, Lower Yields: Global Warming's Impact on Agriculture (Environment America)
• Human Health Impacts of Global Warming on Montana (Pew Environment Group)

• A Preliminary Analysis of the Effects of HR 2454 on U.S. Agriculture (USDA)

• Climate Change in the United States: The Prohibitive Costs of Inaction (Union of Concerned Scientists)

State Action

Montana has written a state climate action plan has partnered with six other U.S. states and four Canadian provinces to form the Western Climate Initiative, a joint effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change.

• Montana Climate Action Plan
• Repower Montana (Alliance for Climate Protection)
• State Action on Global Warming (Pew Center on Climate Change) (see maps on state actions)

News and Opinion

• Survey: Montanans Believe Clean Energy = Jobs (Public News Service MT)
• Montana Should Take Lead in Clean Energy (Billings Gazette LTE)
  
• America Can Improve Health, Energy Policy (Billings Gazette Op-Ed)
• Bill Would Boost Jobs, Environment for Workers (Billings Gazette Op-Ed)
• Glorious Glacier National Park Needs Our Help - Now (Great Falls Tribune Op-Ed)
• Outdoor Leaders Praise Passage of Climate Bill (New West Op-Ed)
• We Should Celebrate Energy Bill Passage (MT Standard LTE)
• Let’s Celebrate Steps Toward Energy Independence (Billings Gazette Op-Ed)
• Science Provides Basis for Action on Climate Change (Billings Gazette Op-Ed)
• Timing Right for Energy Bill (MT Standard Op-Ed)
• Rehberg e-Mail Misconstrues Costs (Missoulian LTE)
• Rehberg Sided with Oil and Coal (Missoulian LTE)
• Moral Imperative to Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Missoulian Op-Ed)
• We Must Pave the Way on Climate Change Action (Great Falls Tribune Op-Ed)
• Nation Stands at Crossroads Concerning Energy (Billings Gazette LTE)
• Time to Reform Energy System is Now (Billings Gazette LTE)
• Cap and Trade Would Help Bring Prosperous Future (Billings Gazette LTE)
• Faith Leaders Call for Action on Climate Change (Ravalli Republic Op-Ed)
• Global Warming Can't Be Ignored (Missoulian, Op-Ed)
• Promises Remain Empty Until Carbon Cap Set (Missoulian Op-Ed)