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Montana
State Programs
Related Links
State Planning and Incentive Structures | Energy Efficiency Actions | Energy Supply Actions
State Planning and Incentive Structures
Lead By Example—Energy Efficiency in Public Facilities
Status: Completed
Details: Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer issued Executive Order 35 on July 1, 2008, asking state boards and commissions to save energy by reducing travel. The executive order is part of Schweitzer’s 20 x 10 Initiative, announced in January 2008, directing state government agencies to reduce their energy consumption by 20 percent by the end of 2010.
- http://governor.mt.gov/eo/
EO-35-08_Promote_Energy_Conservation_for_Montana_Board_Council_and_Commission_meetings.pdf - http://governor.mt.gov/news/pr.asp?ID=513
Lead By Example—Energy Efficient Appliance and Equipment Purchase Requirements for Public Facilities
Status: No Activity Identified
Lead By Example—Clean Energy Goals for Public Facilities
Status: No Activity Identified
Lead By Example—Energy Efficiency and Alternative Fuel Goals for Public Fleets
Status: Completed
Details: SB 449 (signed May 8, 2007) requires that all state vehicles purchased on or after January 1, 2008, meet or exceed the current federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard, and agencies must develop and implement programs to reduce fuel consumption in agency vehicles. Certain state vehicles are exempt from these requirements. Prior to January 1, 2008, each agency was required to develop and implement a program to reduce the fuel consumption of any agency vehicle not subject to CAFÉ standards by: reducing fuel consumption, miles traveled, and average vehicle fleet fuel economy; encouraging car pooling and van pooling for state employees when feasible; and developing options for cost-effective use of technologies that allow for a reduction in the number of car and van trips. Montana statute, MCA 90-4-1011, (1995) encouraged the use of alternative fuels and fuel blends, recommending that state and local governments should be encouraged to set an example with their vehicle fleets in the use of alternative fuels and fuel blends.
- http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2007/billpdf/SB0449.pdf
- http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca/90/4/90-4-1011.htm
State and Regional Energy Planning
Status: Completed
Details: Montana is part of the Western Governor's Association (WGA). In June 2006 the Governors signed resolutions to meet or exceed goals of 30,000 MW of clean energy by 2015 and a 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2020, to encourage adequate funding for state energy efficiency and renewable generation programs, and to facilitate development of regional energy markets.
Determining the Air Quality Benefits of Clean Energy—Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy Set Asides (NOX Budget Trading Program)
Status: No Activity Identified
Determining the Air Quality Benefits of Clean Energy—Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy Set Asides (CAIR Budget Trading Program)
Status: No Activity Identified
Energy Efficiency Actions
Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards
Status: No Activity Identified
Public Benefit Funds for Energy Efficiency
Status: Completed
Details: Universal PBF applies to all customers of electric and natural gas utilities. Funds support efficiency, renewables, and low-income energy programs (effective since 1999); utility annual funding level is 2.4% of 1995 sales revenues. In 2005, this program was extended to 2009.
Building Codes for Energy Efficiency—Commercial Programs
Status: Goes Beyond ECPA
Details: 2003 IECC with reference to ASHRAE 90.1-2001, mandatory statewide; can use COMcheck to show compliance.
Building Codes for Energy Efficiency—Residential Programs
Status: Goes Beyond ECPA
Details: 2003 IECC with amendments, mandatory statewide; can use REScheck to show compliance.
State Appliance Efficiency Standards
Status: No Activity Identified
Energy Supply Actions
Renewable Portfolio Standards
Status: Completed
Details: The Montana Renewable Power Production and Rural Economic Development Act, enacted in April 2005, requires public utilities to procure from renewable sources according to the following schedule: 5% in 2008 through 2009; 10% in 2010 through 2014; and 15% in 2015 and thereafter.
- http://www.dsireusa.org/documents/Incentives/MT08R.htm
- http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/tabsrch.cfm?state=MT&type=RPS&back=regtab&Sector=S&CurrentPageID=7&EE=1&RE=1
Public Benefit Funds for Clean Energy Supply
Status: Completed
Details: A universal systems benefits charge applies to all customers of electric and natural gas utilities. Resulting funds support efficiency, renewables, and low-income energy programs (effective since 1999); utility's annual funding level is 2.4% of 1995 sales revenues. A total of $14 million is generated annually, of which $1.8 million is allotted to renewable energy.
- http://www.pewclimate.org/states.cfm?ID=23
- http://www.aceee.org/briefs/dec05_03.htm
- http://www.pewclimate.org/states.cfm?ID=23
Output-Based Environmental Regulations
Status: No Activity Identified
Interconnection Standards—Clean Distributed Generation
Status: Proposed
Details: On January 4, 2008, the Western Climate Initiative accepted Montana as a full partner at the request of Governor Brian Schweitzer. Governor Schweitzer decided upon this action as a result of policy recommendations in the final report of his Climate Change Advisory Committee. These recommendations include improvements to the state’s interconnection and net metering rules in order to remove the barriers against, and provide incentives for, small distributed renewables and CHP. On November 28, 2007, the Montana Public Service Commission held a technical workshop to hear stakeholder viewpoints on whether to adopt the federal interconnection standard (docket # N2007.10.114).
- http://www.irecusa.org/uploads/media/February_-_2008_Interconnection_Newsletter.pdf
- http://www.mtclimatechange.us/ewebeditpro/items/O127F14041.pdf
- http://www.psc.state.mt.us/eDocs/eDocuments/getDocumentsInfo.asp?docketId=8711&do=false
Interconnection Standards—Net Metering
Status: Completed
Details: On January 4, 2008, the Western Climate Initiative accepted Montana as a full partner at the request of Governor Brian Schweitzer. Governor Schweitzer decided upon this action as a result of policy recommendations in the final report of his Climate Change Advisory Committee. These recommendations include improvements to the state’s interconnection and net metering rules in order to remove the barriers against, and provide incentives for, small distributed renewables and CHP.
Montana's net metering legislation, enacted in 1999, applies to customers generating up to 50 kW with hydro-electric, wind or solar-energy systems.