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Mountain States Among Most 2nd Amendment Supportive

6 November 2024
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By Chris Woodward, The Center Square

Mountain States are among the most gun-friendly states in 2024.

Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, North and South Dakota all rank high in rankings from ammunition e-commerce and wholesaler company Ammo.com. 

Montana is fourth on this year’s ranking. Like other states in its region, Montana is a Constitutional Carry state with no registration or permit requirements. Meanwhile, Montana does not impose a sale tax on firearms, something Ammo.com said means firearms will “be a bit cheaper than in most other states.”

In a statement, Gov. Greg Gianforte said Montanans are proud of their Second Amendment rights. They also know they have a “responsibility” to preserve those Second Amendment rights. 

“We’ll continue to keep Montana a sanctuary for freedom and free enterprise, and we’ll always defend the rights of law-abiding Montanans,” said Gianforte.

In February 2023, the governor wrote United States Attorney General Merrick Garland to criticize the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to erode the 2nd Amendment rights of Montanans. In January of that year, Gianforte took steps with the Board of Investments to block Environmental Social Governance (ESG) investigating of state funds. 

More than 150 firearms and ammunitions businesses are in Montana.

Wyoming is 12th this year, due in part to the Cowboy State having Constitutional Carry, a governor that is pro-2nd Amendment, and Stand Your Ground Castle Doctrine, and No Duty to Retreat policies. 

Idaho is the 11th most gun-friendly state. As it is in Wyoming, Idahoans can open and concealed carry without a permit.

“Those traveling to Idaho will need a concealed carry (CCW) permit, although the state accepts permits from all 50 states,” said Ammo.com in this year’s report. “The state’s standard sales tax applies to all firearms and equipment, but you won’t have to register your firearms or take additional courses before purchasing.”

North Dakota ranks 10th for reasons such as one needs to only reside in the state for 30 days to partake in open and concealed carry freedoms. Gun owners do have to be at least 18 years of age, have no felony convictions, and face no pending criminal charges. Still, Ammo.com applauds the state for allowing those with prior convictions to get their 2A rights restored in the state of North Dakota.

“Governor Doug Burgum recently declared North Dakota a Second Amendment Sanctuary State,” added Ammo.com.

South Dakota ranked ninth. Governed by 2nd Amendment supporter Kristi Noem, South Dakota currently has no registration requirements for firearms, nor does it have additional background checks. Want an enhanced carry permit for travel? Visit your local sheriff’s department for an application. 

“South Dakota accepts CCWs from all 50 states,” wrote Ammo.com. “You can also apply for a Gold Card to bypass the NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System).”

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Montana Highlights November 1 2024

6 November 2024
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Glacier Park International Airport was awarded another $2.5 million in federal funding recently for its ongoing terminal expansion project. Awarded through the FAA Airport Terminal Program, the dollars will expedite work on the expansion. A portion of the latest grant will go toward a third bag claim device which costs around $1 million.

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced recently that the first sections of the 90-inch replacement pipe for the St. Mary Siphon had arrived. This sets the stage for replacing the infrastructure that delivers water to the Milk River Project, a lifeline for north-central Montana. As an irrigation project the Milk River Project and the St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance works were one of the first projects the Bureau of Reclamation was authorized to build after it was created in 1902. The St. Mary Canal Siphon suffered a catastrophic failure June 17, 2024. It was constructed in two phases, with the downstream barrel completed between 1912 and 1915 and the upstream barrel after 1925.

The Stafford/McClelland Ferry will be removed from the Missouri River on October 31.

Whitefish’s Stack Financial Management climbed from #72 to #57 on the 2024 CNBC Financial Advisor 100 list. Stack Financial Management is a nationally recognized, independent Registered Investment Advisor based in Whitefish managing over $1.9 billion in assets for individuals, families and business owners across the U.S.  

The University of Montana has hired Dr. Jeffrey Michael to serve as the next director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Michael joins BBER from the University of the Pacific where he has served as director of Public Policy at the McGeorge School of Law. Michael has decades of experience in regional economic forecasting,

Independence Bank has announced the promotion of Lauren Kato to Teller Supervisor and Accountant Relations Specialist. Lauren is a native of Havre.

Independence Bank recently announced the promotion of Sydne Haider to Account Relations Supervisor. Sydne joined the bank October 13, 2021, as an Account Relations Specialist.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has finalized its plan for managing grizzly bears. Last month, FWP Director Dustin Temple formally adopted a 326-page outline for how the state will address conflicts between bears and people, approach an eventual trophy hunt and respond to the state’s growing grizzly population.

Sarah and Rob Ratkowski, owners of the Montana Milk Moovers home delivery service, are now offering   regular access to fresh, local goods through the Neighborhood Market. The market opened recently off Montana 35. The shop offers dairy products, eggs, produce, meat and other pantry items . The market receives its goods through the Western Montana Growers Cooperative.

Stephanie Cole, a fourth-generation Montanan from Bozeman, is the new chief executive officer of Red Ants Pants, the company announced. Red Ants Pants, based in White Sulphur Springs, sells work wear for women.

The Montana Public Service Commission announced that as of Oct. 1, a typical NorthWestern Energy residential electric customer using 750 kilowatt-hours per month saw a decrease of $6.13 or 5.57% of their monthly electric bill. The decrease comes due to a recent submission to the PSC of NorthWestern’s Annual Power Costs and Credits Adjustment Mechanism (PCCAM).

Glacier National Park saw a record number of visitors in September, according to data from the National Park Service. More than 600,000 visitors passed through one of Glacier’s entrances during September, nearly 50,000 more than in 2023. So far in 2024, 3,001,595 people have visited the park, just the third time that number has eclipsed 3 million and a 9% increase over last year.

The Montana Public Service Commission denied an interim rate increase requested by Montana-Dakota Utilities earlier this year. MDU filed a rate case with the PSC in July requesting a natural gas rate increase of 16.4% for residential customers. As the PSC considers the rate case as a whole, the utility company requested an interim rate increase. The temporary increase would bring the cost to the average residential customer using 78 dekatherms of natural gas up $5.17 per month.

Yellowstone National Park hosted 838,458 visitors in September. So far in 2024, the park has hosted 4,349,689 recreation visits, up 5% from 2023. The year-to-date numbers are just 120,000 lower than in 2021, the park’s record-setting year.

Sagebrush Boutique, a new business has opened in Miles City. Owned by Shawna Christofferson, the boutique celebrated its opening on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport set a September record for passenger traffic. In all, 249,773 passengers came through the Belgrade airport in September up 6.5% over the previous mark of 234,589 set in 2023. The busiest month was July, with 322,732 passengers.

 The Treasure Chest of Hobbies and Crafts in Missoula is closing after over 45 years in business.

The Montana Department of Transportation has applied for federal funding to reduce collisions along U.S. Highway 191, one of Montana most wildlife collision-prone highways. The Center for Large Landscape Conservation, a Bozeman-based nonprofit announced that MDT has submitted a grant application.

The Missoula Family YMCA has received a $500,000 matching grant from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation. The gift was given in honor of Mike Halligan, the foundation’s outgoing executive director, who is set to retire in January of 2025.

Bloom Montessori School in Helena has announced it will close its child care center in December. Bloom is licensed to serve 132 students aged 0-6 years old.

Gov. Gianforte presented his annual Forest Products Award to the Weyerhaeuser Raw Materials Team at their Flathead Valley facility during Montana Forest Products Week. While the forest products marketplace continues to evolve, companies like Weyerhaeuser Raw Materials are helping support our economy and responsibly manage our forests,” Gov. Gianforte said. The honorees of the award included Weyerhaeuser team members Shaney Neuharth, Zack Miller, Milo Funk, and Jacob Parent. Miller and Parent focus on sustainable forest management and raw material procurement to ensure non-sawlog materials are used productively. Funk manages by-product procurement, handling over 400,000 tons annually, and Neuharth leads initiatives to utilize slash material for heating systems, reducing reliance on natural gas and lowering emissions. 

The North Dakota Public Service Commission voted to approve a Certificate of Site Compatibility for Cerilon GTL North Dakota. Cerilon has proposed a gas-to-liquids facility that will transform natural gas into synthetic products. These products include Group III+ base oils, ultra- low sulphur diesel and naphtha. The site, near Trenton ND, was selected for several reasons— its proximity to abundant natural gas supplies, access to road and rail transportation, and existing local infrastructure. It also has access to sufficient electrical power for startup and interconnection to the power grid.

Four landmark properties are for sale in Livingston. They are Riverside Hardware and The Stockman Bar on Main Street, the 49er Diner, Bar and Casino on Park Street, and the former Livingston Enterprise building on South Main Street.

The Cascade County Detention Center in Great Falls is facing many of the same changes as Yellowstone County faces with overcrowding and having to detain inmates who should be treated for mental illness. Typical population numbers are over 400 inmates, occasionally exceeding 500, while the official jail capacity is 372. Officials are instituting two programs that could help relieve the jail of low-level offenders and offering mental health care.

North Dakota and South Korea will work together on energy and carbon capture technologies. North Dakota and South Korean officials signed a memorandum of understanding during North Dakota’s trade mission to South Korea. Their goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030, in part through carbon capture, utilization and storage. One of North Dakota’s largest manufacturers, Fargo-based Bobcat Co., is part of the South Korea-based Doosan Group.

Missoula has been awarded over $130,000 of federal funding to “improve energy efficiency and meet the city’s climate goals.” Missoula city government wants to make its operations carbon neutral by 2025, and to require the broader community be carbon neutral by 2050. The funds will pay for staff to develop new voluntary construction codes for building projects that improve weatherization and electrification above state requirements.

The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) has released its monthly report detailing airline passenger traffic at the state’s eight commercial service airports. With 98,371 passengers boarding flights within North Dakota this past month, it marks the busiest September on record, surpassing the previous high of 92,703 passengers set in September of 2014. The September 2024 figures reflect a year-over-year increase of 7,101 passengers, representing an 8% rise over September 2023. Additionally, this marks the fifth consecutive month of record-breaking passenger numbers for the state. 

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) Region 7 staff is increasing public access at the Isaac Homestead Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Hysham. The WMA was purchased by FWP in 1969 and was recently expanded with a purchase of a 414-acre parcel, totaling to 1,532 acres of native wildlife habitat and cultivated farm ground. The Montana Outdoor Legacy Foundation (MOLF), acting as Trust Manager for the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust has finalized the sale of a 414-acre tract to FWP from the Lackman Family. The acquisition is located between the two existing units of the Isaac Homestead WMA, connecting the east and west portions and providing the only land-based access to the Yellowstone River.

Montana Knife Manufacturing in Missoula is building a $18 million, two-story, 50,000-square-foot facility that the owner says will eventually house 150-200 employees. Co-founded  in a garage just four years ago, by Josh Smith and Brandon Horoho, the new state-of-the-art facility will include corporate offices, a coffee shop, and a viewing area to observe the knife-making process. They manufacture knives for various purposes, including hunting, professional cooking, and tactical use for law enforcement and the military.

Enrollment at the University of Montana jumped nearly 6% this fall. When including Missoula College, total enrollment at UM increased nearly 5%, marking the largest year-over-year jump in 15 years. In total, the university has 484 more students enrolled this fall when compared to last year, bringing total enrollment to 10,811.

Millennials, Better Financial Condition than Previous Generations

6 November 2024
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By Maggie Davis, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

From coming of age in the wake of the Great Recession to bearing much of the brunt of today’s soaring home prices, many people seem to think millennials have it pretty bad.

Contrary to that belief, the latest LendingTree study indicates millennials are in a better financial position than their Generation X and baby boomer counterparts at similar ages — particularly regarding net worth, assets, income and spending.

Here’s what we found.

Key findings

* When adjusted for inflation, millennials appear to be in a better financial condition than Gen Xers or baby boomers at similar points. In 2022, millennials (ages 26 to 41 at the time) had a median net worth of $84,941. In 2007, Gen Xers (ages 27 to 42 at the time) had a median net worth of $78,333 in 2022 dollars. In 1989, baby boomers (ages 25 to 43 at the time) had a median net worth of $58,101 in 2022 dollars. That means millennials’ net worth was 8.4% higher than Gen Xers’ and 46.2% higher than baby boomers’ at those ages.

* Millennials are more likely to have assets and carry debt than other generations at similar ages. 99.3% of millennials had assets in 2022, while 97.5% of Gen Xers and 93.8% of baby boomers had assets when they were around the same ages. Meanwhile, 88.1% of millennials carried debt in 2022, compared with 86.9% of Gen Xers and 85.8% of baby boomers around that age.

* Midpoint millennials have a higher median cumulative income than older generations. Millennials born in 1989 earned a median of $446,570 between 2014 and 2023 (ages 25 to 34). When the midpoint Gen Xers and baby boomers were 25 to 34, the median cumulative income was $417,700 and $362,330, respectively, in 2023 dollars.

* Still, millennials face significantly higher rent costs and homeownership hurdles. Adjusted for inflation, the median rent in 2024 for midpoint millennials age 35 is $1,481. That’s considerably more than the $1,251 for midpoint Gen Xers in 2008 and the $1,174 for midpoint baby boomers in 1990. Additionally, a 20% down payment on a median home purchase in 2024 is a breathtaking $85,960, compared with inflation-adjusted amounts of $69,305 in 2008 and $57,107 in 1990 — though comparatively low interest rates benefit millennials.

* Looking at overall expenses, millennials spent more money than boomers, but a smaller portion of their income. When midpoint millennials turned 33 in 2022, younger adults ages 25 to 34 spent an average of $67,883 across all items that year. When Gen Xers were of a similar age in 2006, they spent an average of $69,084 in 2022 dollars, and baby boomers spent an average of $63,761 in 1988. But factoring in average pretax income, those millennials spent 75.8% of their annual income — far less than the 83.2% spent by Gen Xers and 91.0% spent by baby boomers.

Matt Schulz — LendingTree chief credit analyst and author of “Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More: How to Take Control of Your Financial Life” — believes prior generations’ struggles have helped prepare millennials.

“I think that the scars from the Great Recession and the pandemic have helped shape millennials’ views on money, forcing them to be more focused on their finances than other generations have had to be,” Schulz says. “That focus has prompted them to learn more about money, get started with investing and savings earlier, become more entrepreneurial and make other financially focused moves that have helped set them up for success. It’s certainly helped that we’ve seen stocks hit record highs.”

Land Board Purchases Property

6 November 2024
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The Montana Land Board has conditionally purchased a 32,891-acre conservation easement to expand public access in northwest Montana. The easement is in the Salish and Cabinet mountains between Kalispell and Libby. This is the first phase of a potentially two-phased project totaling 85,792 acres of timberland and fish and wildlife habitat. The easement will protect wildlife habitat and key landscape connectivity, and provide permanent public recreation access. Forest management and sustainable timber harvest would continue. Additionally, the land will provide a migration corridor and year-round habitat for moose, elk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. Hunters and anglers have used these lands for generations.

In August, the Land Board purchased more than 50,000 acres of habitat conservation leases (HCL) to increase public access, keep agricultural land in production, and conserve prairie habitat. HCLs are a voluntary, incentive-based agreement with private landowners that help ensure high-priority habitats are conserved while traditional agricultural activities, primarily livestock grazing, continue. Landowners commit to retaining wildlife habitats for 30 or 40-year terms.

Increasing public access to public lands is a top priority for the governor. Montanans have gained access to more than 100,000 acres of public lands through new WMAs in the Big Snowy Mountains, Bad Rock Canyon, and along the Yellowstone River with expanded access at Mount Haggin, and a new state park at Somers Beach.

Gianforte Gets an “A” on Cato Report Card

6 November 2024
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Only six governors in the country earned a grade of “A” from the Cato Institute, and Montana’s Governor Greg Gianforte is one of them.

Cato has released a report that grades governors on their fiscal policies from a limited government perspective. Governors receiving an A are those who have cut taxes and spending the most, whereas governors receiving an F have increased taxes and spending the most.

Cato explained the emphasis on governors stating, “Governors play a key role in state fiscal policy. They propose budgets, recommend tax changes, and sign or veto tax and spending bills. When the economy is growing, governors can use rising revenues to expand programs or they can return extra revenues to the public through tax cuts. When the economy slows and budgets go into deficit, governors can respond by raising taxes or trimming spending.”

The report said that Gianforte cut income tax rates and succeeded in a series of bills. In 2021, he cut the top individual income tax rate from 6.9 percent to 6.5 percent and collapsed seven income tax brackets to two. He expanded the standard deduction and repealed tax credits. Further reforms in 2023 cut the top individual income tax rate to 5.9 percent. He has also cut the capital gains tax rate and increased the exemption level for taxing business equipment.

Besides Gianforte governors receiving a grade of A are Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Jim Pillen of Nebraska, Jim Justice of West Virginia, Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas, and Kristi Noem of South Dakota.

Six governors receiving an F are Tony Evers of Wisconsin, John Carney of Delaware, Jay Inslee of Washington, Janet Mills of Maine, Kathy Hochul of New York, and Tim Walz of Minnesota.

All the governors receiving an A on this year’s report are Republicans, and all the governors receiving an F are Democrats.

The report is the 17th biennial fiscal report card, having been issued since 2022. It uses statistical data to grade the governors on their tax and spending records: Governors who restrained taxes and spending receive higher grades, while governors who substantially increased taxes and spending receive lower grades.

To spur growth, half the states have cut their individual or corporate income tax rates in recent years, and some states have converted their multirate individual income taxes into single-rate flat taxes. Unfortunately, many states have also been larding their tax codes with special interest breaks for filmmaking, green energy, and other politically favored industries.

Another trend affecting state budgets is the expansion of school choice programs. More than 30 states now provide support for private schooling through various tax and spending mechanisms. A dozen states have made eligibility for their school choice programs universal or near universal for all students.

Most states are enjoying surpluses today, but they differ in their budget preparations for tomorrow. Debt levels, rainy day funds, and unfunded retirement obligations vary widely by state.

When the economy is growing and revenues are rising, Democrats tend to increase spending, whereas Republicans tend to both increase spending and cut taxes. Recently, state budget surpluses have been so large that both Republicans and Democrats have cut taxes, although the Democratic cuts have often been one-time rebates, which are scored lower on this report than the permanent cuts favored by Republicans.

Tax and spending data for the report come from the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO), the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Tax Foundation, the budget agencies of each state, and news articles. The data cover the period from January 2022 to August 2024.1 The report rates 48 governors. It excludes the governor of Louisiana because he has been in office only a brief time, and the governor of Alaska because of peculiarities in that state’s budget.

Feds Subsidize Battery Processing Manufacturing and Recycling

6 November 2024
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Last week the Biden –Harris administration announced over $3 billion in federal grants to subsidize  domestic battery processing, manufacturing, and recycling projects.

“These investments are also going to help end America’s reliance on critical materials from our economic competitors like China,”  said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

Lael Brainard, director of the National Economic Council under the White House, said the investments would address the vulnerability of depending on China for critical minerals and battery supply chains.

China is a dominant player in the global lithium-ion market.

The country’s output was over 940 gigawatt-hours last year, at the same level of estimated global demand. Seventy percent, or $13.1 billion, of the U.S. lithium-ion battery imports in 2023 were directly from China. The percentage increased to over 80 for the first half of this year owing to the market’s anticipation of higher tariffs.

Last week, the Office of the United States Trade Representative finalized its tariffs on Chinese goods. Tariffs on Chinese lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries will increase from 7.5 to 25 percent on Sept. 27, and the lithium-ion non-electrical vehicle battery tariff rate hike to 25 percent will occur at the beginning of 2026.

Farmers, Businesses Face Criminal Charges if Failing to Register

6 November 2024
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Even though they have not perpetrated any crime, thousands of farmers may face criminal charges if they fail to file information with the federal government. They may face steep fines and possible jail time for failing to file their businesses with the federal government.

Jan. 1, 2025, is the deadline to file Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) with the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

New analysis in a Market Intel by American Farm Bureau Federation economists shows more than 230,000 farms are being mandated to file, but government data indicates less than 11% of all eligible businesses nationwide have done so.

Actually, all businesses are supposed to comply with The Corporate Transparency Act of 2021. The Treasury Department says that they must register any “beneficial owner” of a company to better enable the agency to investigate money laundering.

Many farms are structured as either a c-corporation, s-corporation or limited liability company (LLC), which are now required to be registered if they employ fewer than 20 employees or receive under $5 million in cash receipts – which covers the vast majority of farms.

 “The use of LLCs is an important tool for many farms to keep personal and business assets separated, but small businesses often lack the staff to track and stay in compliance with changing rules and regulations,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “It’s clear that many farmers aren’t aware of the new filing requirement. Unclear guidance and lack of public outreach are now putting thousands of America’s farmers at risk of violating federal law.”

 Businesses that fail to file, or do not update records when needed, could face criminal fines up to $10,000 and additional civil penalties of up to $591 per day. Failure to file could also lead to felony charges and up to two years in prison.

“The greater farm economy will also be impacted by CTA requirements,” AFBF economists write. “Many feed and supply stores, crop marketers like grain elevators and the greater rural business community are also likely required to file their BOI and subject to penalties if they do not comply. The regulatory burdens and potential enforcement crackdowns could have ripple effects throughout the entire food, fiber and fuel supply chains.”

According to Gina Stevens, Montana Farm Bureau Federation Taxation Committee Chair, if your entity is set up with a lawyer, contact that lawyer to see if the BOI has already been filed. If you must file a BOI, it needs to be completed either by yourself or by an tax attorney. Your accountant cannot do this for you.

Stevens, a Hardin accountant, added that if you formed a reporting entity in 2024 you only have 60 days to file this form.

“We’ve been telling people that if they file with the Montana Secretary of State, chances are they need to file a BOI. If you are unsure whether you are required to file your business’s BOI with FinCEN, contact your accountant or tax attorney immediately,” noted Stevens. “It is wiser to inquire and find out you don’t need to file a BOI than face high fines and even jail time if you needed to file but didn’t.”

Electric Cooperatives Receive Subsidies From USDA

6 November 2024
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Basin Electric Power Cooperative in Montana is among the first wave of 16 rural electric cooperatives that will receive subsidies from the USDA’s Empowering Rural America (New ERA) to leverage projects for carbon-free energy in rural communities across 23 states. The majority of new electricity sources that will be funded are solar and wind power.

The funds will fund “renewable energy projects” totaling 1400 megawatts across Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. A press release states that the efforts will reduce greenhouse gas pollution by an estimated 2.2 million tons annually.

In total USDA estimates these projects will avoid more than 43 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

USDA estimates New ERA government funding will spur the creation of an estimated 4,500 long-term jobs and 16,000 short-term jobs.

As a result of these projects, renewable capacity supply for rural co-ops will increase by 35 percent from 26 to nearly 35 gigawatts, with wind and solar capacity rising by more than 60 percent from 14 gigawatts to 23 gigawatts.

A few examples of clean energy projects providing real savings to co-op members are Dairyland Power Co-operative, which is expecting rates 42 percent lower over ten years compared with business as usual; and Great River Energy, which expects cost reductions by $30 million annually. More member savings can be found below, compiled from the USDA’s announcement. 

“With the help of the New ERA program, rural cooperatives across the country are leading the way in demonstrating how to deploy clean energy to deliver affordable and reliable power for the benefit of their member-owners — and in ways that really work for the communities they serve. The diversity of investments and approaches taken by co-operatives is a testament to the power of the co-op model in fostering innovation tailored to local community needs,” said RMI electricity expert Uday Varadarajan.

 The clear winner in terms of technology was utility-scale solar, however an encouraging number of co-ops will also be investing in utility-scale battery storage systems, demand-side resources, and transmission improvements, which can support additional clean energy investments in the future. 

RMI (founded as Rocky Mountain Institute) provided resources to applicants in the form of a series of webinars, bootcamps, and a financial modeling tool to support ambitious and efficient project designs by co-ops. We have also published a Community Benefits Catalog to support applicants for federal funding in the creation and execution of community benefit plans (CBPs), to ensure every project supports the long-term growth and financial welfare of local communities. 

Colstrip Launches First High Voltage Transmission Line

6 November 2024
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Community leaders in Colstrip celebrated a $700 million investment in bolstering affordable, reliable energy in Montana through the North Plains Connector Interregional Innovation project.

 The project includes the development of the first high voltage transmission line between Montana’s east and west power grids.

 Gov. Greg Gianforte joined Colstrip leaders in recognizing the significance of the project, last week. He stated, “Access to affordable and reliable energy is top priority for this administration, especially at a time when Montanans have faced skyrocketing energy bills due to inflation. “I’m proud to stand alongside our partners today to secure a stronger electric grid and future for the State of Montana.”

In August, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded the State of Montana up to $700 million to enhance power grid reliability in Montana and North Dakota. The funds, made available by the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, are aimed at ensuring that communities across Montana have access to affordable, reliable energy.

 “The dedication of the partners here today are champions and cheerleaders for the Colstrip community and I am proud the department has been a part of this,” Montana Department of Commerce Director Paul Green said. “My team has worked tirelessly with our public and private partners to expand affordable, reliable energy in Montana.”

 The North Plains Connector Interregional Innovation project will connect three regional control entities: the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC), Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), and Southwest Power Pool (SPP). According to DOE, the project will create up to 3,800 megawatts of new capacity and increase transfer capacity between WECC and the Eastern Interconnection in Montana and North Dakota by 1,400 percent.

In July, the Montana Department of Commerce announced it had been awarded $47.5 million from the DOE for projects in Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon counties, as well as the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, to help mitigate the impact of construction of the North Plains Connector transmission line. Eligible projects will include infrastructure updates, such as roads, water, sewers, emergency services, and other projects related to workforce and infrastructure development.

“The partnerships that we have built with Custer, Rosebud, and Fallon counties, the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, the state of Montana and North Dakota, as well as the federal government, are key to ensuring long term success,” said Jim Atchison, Executive Director of Southeastern Montana Development Corporation. “This is more than a transmission line, this is jobs and opportunities and builds on our rich history as an energy leader.”

Billings Works Hard!

6 November 2024
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The Center Square

Billings, Montana, is the 19th hardest working city in the U.S., according to a new analysis from the personal finance website Wallethub.

“Billings ranks among the top 20 hardest working cities,” Wallethub analysts Jill Gonzalez said. “It has a high employment rate at almost 96%, and the largest share of workers with multiple jobs – about 9%. One of the things that Billings could improve is the average commute time. It’s currently 18 minutes and one of the longest in the country.”

To determine its rankings, Wallethub compared 116 of the most populated cities across two key dimensions, “Direct Work Factors” and “Indirect Work Factors.”

Billings finished 30th of the cities studied in direct work factors and 14th in indirect work factors for a total score of 68.18 and the overall 19th place ranking.

Direct work factors includes a subset of data such as average work hours a week, employment rate, share of households where no adults work and share of workers leaving vacation time unused.

Indirect work factors include things such as average commute time, share of workers with multiple jobs and annual volunteer hours per resident.

Anchorage, Alaska, with a total score of 80.46, finished atop the list as the hardest working city in America, according to Wallethub.

“Many Americans view hard work as the path to achieving the American Dream,” Wallerhub said. “We work so hard, in fact, that we put in more hours at our jobs than several other industrialized countries. The average U.S. worker puts in 1,779 hours per year – 135 hours more than the average in Japan, 241 more than the U.K. and 393 more than Germany.”