A new report from Environment Montana Research & Policy Center claims that Montana is falling behind the rest of the nation on clean energy.
According to the report, solar grew by less than 13-fold in Montana compared to nearly 40-fold nationally, and wind grew by less than four-fold compared to a nearly five-fold increase nationally.
The report also shows that the state lags behind on energy efficiency and electric cars, ranking 37th among the states for improvements in electricity energy efficiency programs and 43rd in the number of electric cars on the road.
“We’re falling behind and missing huge opportunities to transition Montana’s economy to a cleaner, healthier future powered by renewable energy,” says Skye Borden from Environment Montana Research & Policy Center. “But the progress that our neighboring states have made in the last decade, especially on wind, should give Montanans confidence that we can take clean energy to the next level.”
North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Idaho all rank among the top 20 states in the nation for growth in wind development, the report says. Because of this growth, all four states currently outproduce Montana in wind generation.
The report, “Renewables on the Rise: A Decade of Progress Positions America for a 100% Renewable Future,” provides a state-by-state assessment of the growth of key technologies needed to power the nation with renewable energy, including wind, solar, energy efficiency, energy storage and electric vehicles. Montana ranked 23rd for wind and 43rd for solar.
“This report helpfully follows a recently completed regional energy stakeholder process hosted by [Montana] Governor [Steve] Bullock and the Bonneville Power Administration that cleared away obstacles to Montana’s renewable energy development,” says Brian Fadie, the clean energy program director of Montana Environmental Information Center. “If we continue to focus our efforts on unleashing Montana’s vast renewable energy potential, we, too, can see the jobs and economics benefits that our neighbors are already enjoying.”
