Montanans Fight for Climate Action Despite Endangerment Finding Rollback

HELENA, Mont. - Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule revoking the regulatory basis for greenhouse gas pollution under the Clean Air Act. The decision flies in the face of legal history and overwhelming scientific evidence establishing that the nation faces extraordinary threats from sources of pollution like power plants, vehicles, fossil fuel development, agriculture and more, which drive global warming.

The decision comes as communities across Montana call on NorthWestern Energy, the owner of Montana's single largest source of climate pollution, the Colstrip power plant, to adopt more affordable, renewable energy alternatives in their integrated resource plan (IRP). Widespread opposition to fossil fuels has packed community meetings in the past month. That plan, which aims to power Montana with expensive and controversial fossil fuel resources for decades to come, starkly contrasts with utility companies across the region.

The Sierra Club played a key role in litigating climate pollution under the Clean Air Act, and the Trump administration's actions demonstrate it is necessary to continue that fight. While the new rule specifically concerns greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, EPA has made clear that it will do the same for other major sources of climate pollution like power plants.

In response, Caryn Miske, Director of the Montana Sierra Club released the following statement:

"Montana's farmers, ranchers, sportsmen and sportswomen, businesses and residents all see the climate crisis unfurling right before their eyes. The Trump administration's climate denialism is an embarrassment on the global stage. They are willing to set our nation back decades if it makes a few CEOs richer. Montana is full of brave and unflinching advocates -- whether it's the youth of the Held v. Montana case or the folks packing public meetings against coal-driven electric bill increases -- all calling for renewable energy and protecting public lands, clean air and water. Right now it is critical we continue pushing the state's biggest polluters like NorthWestern Energy to invest in a renewable energy future as our federal government's anti-science mess wrecks our environmental protections."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.