PSC, NorthWestern Energy violated renewable energy law [Video]

Montana utility regulators and NorthWestern Energy failed to follow state law requiring the development of community renewable energy projects, the state Supreme Court has ruled.

For years, Montana’s Public Service Commission gave NorthWestern a pass for not building or buying community renewable energy projects for its generation lineup. At one point, the PSC granted waivers to NorthWestern five years running.

Tuesday, the Montana Supreme Court faulted the PSC for not enforcing the law, including one year when commissioners indicated they were doing so to “send a message” to the Legislature about the law that had been on the books for about a decade. Commissioners will now have to revisit a waiver granted to NorthWestern for 2016 and determine whether the company was compliant with its legal obligation for that year.

The lawsuit was brought by the Montana …