Responsible & Reliable Clean Energy Supply
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Encourage Philosophical Shift for Utility Provider (2.D.4.)
Status Indicators: 
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The City will work with partner communities to encourage NorthWestern Energy’s Board of Directors and shareholders to adopt a corporate philosophy that recognizes an urgent need to shift to renewable energy sources.
About the Data
The electricity Bozeman purchases from NorthWestern Energy contributes 27% of Bozeman's total community emissions. This is based on the carbon dioxide produced per Megawatt hour multiplied by the total Megawatt hours of electricity used by the Bozeman community each year. Similar to measuring the efficiency of a vehicle with miles per gallon (MPG), monitoring emissions intensity, alongside total utility emissions, represents an important variable in monitoring progress towards emissions goals.
The purple bars in the graph show the total annual emissions generated by NorthWestern Energy for their entire service area. The yellow trend line tracks NorthWestern Energy's CO2e emissions intensity. The data for 2021 and 2022 represents Bozeman's near-term targets that are needed to help achieve a 26% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
- MMT CO2e = Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent
- MT CO2e / Net MWh = Metric Tons Carbon Dioxide Equivalent per Net Megawatt hour
- Data source: NorthWestern Energy's annual EEI - ESG/Sustainability Report for Montana generation owned and long term contracts, excluding market purchases
- The City of Bozeman participated in community meetings with NorthWestern Energy on supply planning and sustainability goals.
- The City participated in the 2023 Legislative Session to protect and advance clean energy opportunities for residents and businesses, focusing on topics ranging from energy issues, electric vehicle taxation, plastic pollution, building codes, and the Montana Environmental Policy Act
- The Sustainability Division coordinated with other Montana cities and supported Commission testimony and utility engagement during the 2023 Legislative Session and remained engaged during Legislative Interim committee meetings in 2023.
- The Sustainability Division participated in NorthWestern Energy's Energy Technical Advisory Committee and submitted joint comment to the Public Service Commission on NorthWestern’s 2023 Integrated Resource Plan.
- The City of Bozeman will continue engagement with the utility, the Montana Legislature, and the Public Service Commission while growing communication and outreach with cities and community organizations to advance clean energy
