Opinion Pages are alive with Energy News

First, Commissioner Ken Toole's Guest editorial in the Missoulian, helping to demystify the cost of electrical rates. 

"To understand prices you have to compare either all future power options or all existing power sources. The problem with looking at future costs is that they are estimates and the numbers are often wrong. So, for example, if we look at recently purchased sources of power in NorthWestern Energy we see the following:
■ Colstrip Unit 4: $54.69 per MWH;
■ Judith Gap Wind Farm: $39.48 per MWH (this includes the cost of "regulating"); and,
■  Energy conservation programs: $4.80 per MWH."

Second, TransCanda's John Dunn (director for their DC project, Zephyr and Chinook) in the Billings Gazette clarifying that they are still working to build Chinook.  

"This is not the case. TransCanada continues to pursue the Chinook project. The $3 billion, high-voltage power line, proposed to ship 3,000 megawatts of wind energy from wind-rich Montana to markets in California, Nevada and Arizona, is currently conducting an open season in which companies can bid for space on the line until Dec. 16."


Third, Rep. Bob Lake again in the Missoulian urging folks to oppose EPA efforts to regulate emission from Biomass Facilities. 

"The bottom line when it comes to this issue is that we need to make the best we can out of a bad situation. Congressman Denny Rehberg as well as Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester have signed onto letters opposing the woody biomass provision in the proposed EPA rule. I urge you to call and ask them to ensure that this rule is not approved with the biomass provision included"