Climate change in Montana
Climate change in Montana is causing common heat waves, earlier snow melts in the spring, and a high amount of dying trees due to droughts and forest fires.
After a few decades, climate change in Montana will most likely impact water availability, agricultural yields, and cause higher risks for wildfires.
Climate change in mountain states is projected by the IPCC to cause decreased snowpack, more winter flooding, and reduced summer rains.
[4] Montana's forests sequester up to 23.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents annually—approximately 62 percent of the state's gross emissions.
These include reduction of crops that need cooler weather, introduction of diseases and pests that come from warmer climates, and more severe storms and droughts.
[9] Montanans will experience health impacts from increased temperatures and decreased stream flows that are similar to those in other parts of the country.
[10] Decreased summer stream flows will lead to heavier concentrations of pollutants including toxic metals, microbes and nutrients.
Montana offers many tax incentives and loan programs for individuals and businesses to promote renewable energy development at all levels in both the private and the public sector.
Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will also extend low-interest loans to consumers, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to install various renewable energy systems, including wind, solar, geothermal, hydro and biomass.
[16] The Energy Promotion and Development Division "facilitates a wind and transmission working group that consists of industry, government, academic and other stakeholders.
[21] Currently, Montana has 15 high-temperature sites located near White Sulphur Springs, Helena, Ennis, Bozeman, Butte and Boulder, and more than 50 designated geothermal areas of varying temperatures across the entire state.
[23] The State of Montana currently offers numerous tax incentives and revolving loan programs to encourage solar energy development projects.
[29][30] In late 2011, Missoula County's Clark Fork Coalition began the process of developing climate action strategies as well.
[33] In the mid 1990s, the federal government purchased a large tract of property neighboring Yellowstone National Park in order to prevent a proposed gold mine from being developed on the land.
[34] As a result of the land transaction, Montana stood to lose substantial revenue from mining royalties, and requested that the state be compensated for the loss.
[36] In reaching its decision to lease the Tracts, the Land Board was not required, under state statute, to consider any environmental impacts or consequences that would result from the proposed mine.
[37] After the Land Board approved the leases, Northern Plains Resource Council and other conservation groups filed suit in the Sixteenth Judicial District in Broadus, Montana.
[41] When the state Attorney General’s office did respond, they did not attack the merits of the parents’ argument but rather challenged the procedural posture of the case.
[44][48] In the trial, held in June 2023, the plaintiffs challenged a law that prohibited the state from considering greenhouse gas emissions as a factor when deciding whether to issue permits for energy-related projects.
[53] In May 2023, Republican lawmakers passed a law—possibly the nation’s most aggressive anti-climate action law—prohibiting state agencies from considering climate change impacts when considering permits for projects like coal mines and fuel power plants.
