A New Era In Energy
We’re entering a new era in energy. One that views electricity as a vital key to reducing our nation’s reliance on foreign oil. According to the federal Energy Information Administration, the consumption of electricity has nearly tripled since 1970 and demand is forecasted to increase by another 30 percent by 2035. Whether electricity is used to power a new generation of vehicles or a new generation of electronic gadgets - generating electricity from renewable sources is no longer the alternative.
It’s hard to find common ground on most topics, but most people can agree on one thing – we need to produce more of the energy we need from domestic sources. While traditional fuel sources can be transported by rail or pipeline to an electric generation plant – renewable sources of electricity such as wind and hydro must be generated where the resource is located and then transported to where it is used.
One of the cleanest fuel sources is located in abundance right here in our own back yard. That’s why major wind developers are serious about marketing Montana generated wind power throughout the West. However, they can’t sell it unless they have a way to deliver it. That’s where we come in.
In order to meet the demand for new transmission capacity, NorthWestern Energy is proposing to build new transmission lines including the Mountain States Transmission Intertie in keeping with rules and requirements that we adhere to. Developing and siting new transmission lines is a long and complex process that seeks to align diverse and often conflicting interests to meet the needs of this and future generations.
NorthWestern Energy is working closely with local, state and federal regulatory agencies to build a safe, reliable transmission system. At the same time, it is important to address the concerns and questions that you may have about the project. That’s why we have created this website and will continue to participate in public forums. As someone who is interested in this project, you can expect NorthWestern to be open, honest and timely in our communication with you. Landowners and their property will be treated with respect.
We have nearly 100 years of experience in designing, building, operating and maintaining a safe and reliable transmission system and we expect to be doing the same for the next 100 years. Yes, this is a new era in energy and we embrace it. That’s what delivering a bright future all is about.