Public News Service

Wildfires in the western United States have burned more than 1.3 million acres of vegetation so far in 2024. Officials warn flooding is a serious danger in the burn scars left by the blazes after the flames are out. (Adobe Stock)

Dangerous floods loom following Montana wildfires

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation has issued flood alerts following wildfires burning huge swaths of the state. Floods …

New research at the University of Montana recommends letting smaller wildfires burn where possible, heading off potentially more dangerous blazes later. (Adobe Stock)

MT researchers: Let smaller wildfires burn

A new study in the journal Nature Communications by Montana researchers said suppressing small wildfires is leading to larger, more intense and …

The Lolo National Forest's geographic location is seen as critical for connecting wildlife habitats. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife habitat, connectivity, key to Lolo National Forest management plan

Today is the deadline for public comment on Montana's Lolo National Forest management plan. Advocates say the input will shape how the land is used …

Montana land proposed for solar power

The Bureau of Land Management has proposed expanding the public land available for solar power production in 11 states, including Montana. The BLM's …

Climate stressors such as heat and drought are changing America's forests at a rapid rate. The National Wildlife Federation supports a policy proposed by the Biden administration to protect and nurture habitat in old-growth forests. (Adobe Stock)

Plan to preserve MT's old-growth forests a 'good first step'

A group of conservation, sporting and land-stewardship organizations calls the U.S. Forest Service's move to conserve old-growth forests a "good …

Urban Community Forestry Grants seek to improve air quality and wildlife habitat in Montana's disadvantaged urban areas. (Adobe Stock)

MT invests in tree canopies in underserved communities

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is investing $400,000 in grant projects to improve the tree canopy in Montana's urban are…

Montana consistently reports one of the highest voter turnout rates in the nation, and Montana Conservation Voters is trying to make sure it stays that way, with on-the-ground organizers across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Montana Conservation Voters invests in democratic participation

Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund is upping its education efforts, adding field offices around the state and putting boots on the ground…

The State of Montana works to reduce the threat of climate-induced avalanches on over 4,000 miles of trail across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Climate change to cost MT jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars

A new scientific report from a wildlife conservation group details the potential impacts of climate change on Montana jobs and the environment…

Hydrogen is a clean fuel that, when consumed in a fuel cell, produces only water. Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of domestic resources, such as natural gas, nuclear power, biomass and renewable power such as solar and wind, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. (Adobe Stock)

MT part of $1 billion hydrogen hub

The Biden administration has announced investments in a hydrogen hub to produce energy in the Northwest, including in Montana. Clean-energy …

Missoula-based Mountain Line has grown to provide an average of 1.5 million rides per year, up 70% from 2014. The transportation company is making major enhancements to its service with federal infrastructure investments. (Mountain Line)

A Year In, IRA Investments Bolster MT Homes, Businesses

It has been a year since President Joe Biden signed the $770 billion Inflation Reduction Act. In Montana, it has meant new jobs in agriculture…

Flathead Lake's high water quality results from its watershed being mainly national park, wilderness and managed forest lands combined with having a relatively low human population. (Adobe Stock)

Drought Tightens Grip on Montana Waterways

As crippling heat sears Western states, drought is creeping into Montana where Indigenous tribes are seeing historic waterways at record lows…

One key issue in the case is whether Montana is responsible for emissions within the state and downstream emissions from fossil fuels extracted in the state and transported elsewhere, or whether it is responsible only for emissions within its territory. (Lesley Clark/POLITICO's E&E News)

Montana's Youth-Led Climate Case Could Set Precedent

Now in its fifth day, 16 kids are participating in a court trial with a lawsuit accusing Montana state agencies and the governor of compromising the …

An increase in average global temperatures above 1.5 degrees Celsius risks sea-level rise, extreme weather and the loss of species and habitats, as well as food scarcity and increasing poverty for millions of people worldwide, according to ClientEarth. (Adobe Stock)

Montana Rolls Back Environmental Protections

Montana's environmental advocates are criticizing Gov. Greg Gianforte for signing a bill they said will allow the state to ignore the impacts of …

The Bureau of Land Management manages about 8 million acres of land in Montana. (BLM Montana and Dakotas/Flickr)

BLM Proposes Greater Sustainability of Public Lands It Manages

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has proposed a rule that would bring more conservation to the lands it manages. The agency's proposal would …

The Biochar Research Network Act would have set up as many as 20 biochar research facilities across the country. (K.salo.85/Wikimedia Commons)

Biochar's Rise on Farms Could Help Capture More Carbon

By Lisa Held for Civil Eats. Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Big Sky Connection, reporting for Civil Eats/Solutions Journalism/Public News …

Between 2010 and 2020, enough methane was vented on public lands to serve about 675,000 homes, according to the Bureau of Land Management. (FreezeFrames/Adobe Stock)

BLM Methane Flaring Limit Could Go Further, Group Says

The Biden administration has proposed a rule to limit methane flaring from oil and gas development on public lands. The rule would impose royalty …

Conservation-minded lawmakers face an uphill battle in the Montana Legislature, where Republicans will control more than two-thirds of seats in 2023. (Galyna Andrushko/Adobe Stock)

A Green Wave Seen in MT Election?

Candidates supporting conservation efforts held strong in last week's election in Montana. While Republicans captured a supermajority in the state …

In a recent report, Sierra Club scored utilities for their climate-friendly pledges only slightly better than in its 2021 report. (bilanol/Adobe Stock)

NorthWestern Energy Among Utilities with Long Roads to Cleaner Power

Utilities across the country are making climate pledges - but they're not necessarily backing them up, according to a new report. The Sierra Club …

The Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits for renewable energy, such as wind turbines. (Yay Images/Adobe Stock)

Historic Climate Action Bill Heads to President Biden's Desk

Congress has passed legislation making the largest investment in clean energy in U.S. history. It has grassroots organizations like Northern Plains …

Parts of Montana will see above-average fire activity in August and September, according to the National Interagency Fire Center's predictions. (Andy Dean/Adobe Stock)

Extreme Weather Across West as MT Fire Season Begins

The western United States is facing extreme weather, including long-lasting droughts, heat and an above-average wildfire season. For Montanans…

Montana's Glacier National Park is threatened by changes to the climate. (Bennekom/Adobe Stock)

MT Businesses Partner to Protect State's Outdoors

Conservation groups are not the only ones looking to protect Montana. Businesses are joining efforts to preserve the "Last Best Place." The Montana …

Northern Plains Resource Council is holding presentations on soil health at farms and ranches across Montana. (Northern Plains Resource Council)

Montanans Learn About Healthy Agriculture with Soil Crawls

Montanans get a sense of what soil health is like on farms and ranches across the state with Northern Plains Resource Council's soil crawls. The …

Floodwaters this week struck as far north as Billings, which is Montana's largest city. (City of Billings)

Flood-Ravaged MT Communities See an Uncertain Summer

Community members in Montana are picking up the pieces left behind by historic flooding in the region. Rising waters hit rivers including the …

The Montana Constitution goes beyond even the U.S. Constitution in its protections of the environment. (stevengaertner/Adobe Stock)

Conservation Lawmakers Mark 50th Anniversary of MT Constitution

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Montana Constitution. The document is unique among constitutions, in part, because it recognizes the …

Montana is projected to face greater risks from wildfires as temperatures rise from climate change. (Gabe/Adobe Stock)

Study: Rural Communities Could Struggle to Access Infrastructure Dollars

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress is directing a historic amount of funds to climate resilience. But some rural …

The Well Done Foundation brought northern Montana schools kids out for its first capping in 2021. (Well Done Foundation)

Infrastructure Dollars Plug Abandoned Oil Wells in MT, Other States

States are getting money from the infrastructure law to plug up the methane-leaking issue of orphan oil wells. The Biden administration has …

Kaitlyn Farrington, middle, and other athletes from Protect Our Winters have traveled to Washington, D.C., to talk about climate change. (Forest Woodward/POW)

Report: As Snow Decreases, Could 2022 Be Final Winter Olympics?

Viewers of the Winter Olympics that start this week should enjoy them while they can. A new study says the winter games will become much harder to …

The Montana Constitution was adopted in 1972 and is the second in the state's history. (pabrady63/Adobe Stock)

MT Constitution's 50th Anniversary: Opportunity to Reflect on Its Power

The Montana Constitution was ratified 50 years ago this year. A series of talks in Helena will observe the occasion by discussing the document…

Signers of a letter to NorthWestern Energy's chief executive want the company to move away from fossil fuels. (Winona Batemen)

Frustration Boils Over as MT Utility Doubles Down on Fossil Fuels

The clean-energy future needs to start now, according to some Montanans fighting to change the direction of the state's largest utility. Nearly 1,000…

Steven Ladefoged, owner of Montago Coffee, says conservation is important to protect Montana's $2.4 billion recreation economy. (Steven Ladefoged)

MT Businesses: Measures in Congress Crucial for Climate Action

HELENA, Mont. - Nearly three dozen Montana businesses are thanking U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., for his work on the infrastructure bill signed by …

Katharine Heyhoe is a climate scientist from Canada who now lives in Texas. (Ashley Rodgers)

Grassroots Family Ag Group Marks 50 Years in MT

BILLINGS, Mont. - A grassroots organization that stands up for family agriculture in Montana is celebrating 50 years this week - and looking toward …

A project to mitigate flood damage in Three Forks, Mont., is expected to cost $5 million. (CheriAlguire/Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Bill's Passage Could Bring Flood Relief for MT City

THREE FORKS, Mont. -- The passage of the infrastructure bill in Congress could provide relief for a Montana community threatened by floods. Three …

Solar jobs could be an avenue for Montana workers in coal-dependent sectors. (anatoliy_gleb/Adobe Stock)

Upcoming Summit Explores Clean Future for MT Energy

HELENA, Mont. - An event coming up soon looks at the prospects for clean energy in Montana. The Energy Future Summit will be held virtually Oct. 1…

The oil and gas industry has more than 800 approved permits to drill in Montana, according to Wild Montana. (kat7213/Adobe Stock)

Calls for Reform as Oil, Gas Leasing on Public Lands Resumes

HELENA, Mont. -- Conservation groups in Montana are calling on the federal government to overhaul oil and gas leasing on public lands. President Joe …

Sen. Jon Tester helped craft an infrastructure package that won over 69 senators in August. (Carlos M. Vazquez II/Department of Defense)

Montanans Visit Tester's Offices to Urge Support for Climate Policies

HELENA, Mont. -- Montanans are delivering a message to the offices of Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., across the state today: Support bold investments in …

The Senate's infrastructure bill was passed 69-30, but split Montana's senators. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

MT Conservationists Hail Congress' Moves on Climate, Infrastructure

MISSOULA, Mont. -- Montana conservationists are praising a bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in the Senate as key for addressing the changing …

Wild Montana's Executive Director Ben Gabriel announced the organization's new approach at an event in Helena. (Wild Montana)

Name Change Refocuses MT Org on Wild Places of All Kinds

HELENA, Mont. -- One of the country's oldest grassroots conservation groups is changing its name, and also broadening its mission. The Montana …

Conservation groups call a bill securing funding for public lands from the recreational marijuana program a victory for the 2021 legislative session. (Frank Jr/Adode Stock)

Report Grades MT Lawmakers on Conservation, Energy Votes

HELENA, Mont. - Conservation and clean-energy advocates found themselves playing defense on many occasions during Montana's 2021 legislative session…

People who advocate for more electric vehicles on roadways are concerned that the prospect of higher registration fees in Montana could dissuade people from buying them. (Artinun/Adobe Stock)

Electric Vehicle Fees Jump Under MT Measure

HELENA, Mont. -- Legislation in Montana that will create some of the highest registration fees for electric vehicles in the nation awaits Gov…

The Keystone XL pipeline was slated to carry 800,000 gallons of tar sands per day through northeastern Montana. (Alex/Adobe Stock)

Keystone XL Pipeline Axed; Win for MT Tribes, Environment

HELENA, Mont. - President Joe Biden made the Keystone XL Pipeline one of his top priorities on his first day in office, issuing an executive order to …

The Keystone XL Pipeline is projected to carry about 830,000 barrels of crude per day through eastern Montana. (JP Photography/Adobe Stock)

Keystone XL Pipeline Called Threat to MT Communities

HELENA, Mont. -- Tribes and conservation groups are urging Montana to deny a key permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline. Under the Clean Water Act…

Documents from Puget Sound Energy show a section of Colstrip Unit 4 needs $20 million in repairs.(Rachel Cernansky/Spot Us)

Few Details in NorthWestern Energy Bid for Colstrip Unit

LIVINGSTON, Mont. - Some Montanans are concerned about the lack of transparency in a proposal that's expected to have a major impact on the state's …

William Pendley Perry was appointed in July 2020 to head the Bureau of Land Management, but the nomination was withdrawn in August after a groundswell of opposition materialized. (Flickr)

Federal Court Orders Pendley Out as Acting BLM Director

BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) begins this week without a director. Acting on a lawsuit brought by Gov. Steve Bullock…

Montana's new climate-change report addresses the health impacts of global warming, including poor air quality from more wildfire smoke. (Adobe Stock)

MT Climate Plan Aims for Carbon Neutrality by 2050

MISSOULA, Mont. -- As wildfires rage across the West, a new report from the Montana Climate Solutions Council calls for a complete reduction in …

William Perry Pendley was formally nominated to be Bureau of Land Management director in June, but had his nomination pulled after a public outcry. (Bob Wick/BLM)

Sporting Community: Remove Pendley as BLM Head Immediately

HELENA, Mont. -- Western hunters, anglers and conservation groups are calling for the immediate removal of William Perry Pendley as head of the U.S…

Scientists say it's important to curb emissions drastically by mid-century to avoid the worst effects of climate change. (Choat/Adobe Stock)

COVID-19 Provides Lessons on Climate Change Response

BOZEMAN, Mont. - The country's response to the new coronavirus pandemic could provide valuable insight on how to curb climate change's effects…

Montana Conservation Voters is supporting candidates who will sit on the Land Board that favor protecting public lands. (Montana Conservation Voters)

MT Conservation Organization Weighs in on Land Board Races

HELENA, Mont. -- Montana Conservation Voters has released candidate endorsements for a state board key to public lands in the hopes of securing a …

Finding a charging station can induce anxiety for electric-vehicle owners, but six stations are located in and around Yellowstone National Park. (Herbert/National Parks Service)

Report Offers Blueprint for MT's Clean Transportation Future

HELENA, Mont. -- Montanans will have to change how they get around in order to cut their carbon footprint, and a new report offers a road map on how …

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MT: Climate Change