Some Energy News, and a taste of the new PSC majority

• I watched with interest the exchange between Commissioner Molnar and PSC staff over NorthWestern Energy's request for interim rate relief on Mill Creek.  The exchange starts 28 minutes into the PSC's stream which is archived here.  Commissioner Molnar's comments, and his vote against the request, demonstrate that he is opposed to NorthWestern Energy using the plant to meet their balancing needs.  Permanent rates for the facility could be in jeopardy with a new PSC majority....  
• Senator Tester has an Op-Ed out defending the MT RPS standard and discussing his role in its passing.  
• The Great Falls Tribune offers Tim Gregori an opportunity to explain why public power is not dead, and in his continuing nepotism he cites his own work, and not that of actually successful public power (ie: Flathead Electric). 
• Someone has filed an interconnection request for 125 MW of wind NE of Greycliff Montana in Sweet Grass County Montana.