Protect the Clean Energy Tax Credits
14 wind, hydro, and battery storage projects in Montana are at stake!
America’s clean energy tax credits could be on the chopping block in Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill. The House Ways & Means Committee is working on this right now (April)
Let’s make sure our Legislators know: Clean energy tax credits are driving jobs, investment and pollution cuts across the country. They should remain in place.
Here are some Clean Energy Tax Credit talking points and resources for Montana.
Call now.
cclusa.org/take-action
Fix Our Forests Act Webinar | Q and A with Forester & CCL Leader Dave Atkins
Watch the VIDEO on our @CCLMontana Youtube channel
This event had 2 parts:
45 mins. Learn more about wildfire and the Fix Our Forests Act
1:15 mins Time for Q and A with forest expert Dave Atkins
Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL) volunteers support effective ways to lower emissions through federal legislation in 4 policy areas: Carbon pricing, Building Electrification, Permitting reform/Enhancing regional Transmission, and Healthy Forests.
Soon, CCL will be asking our volunteers to mobilize in support of the Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA) H.B. 471, which passed the House with bipartisan support (279 - 141) in January 2025, and is now in the Senate. As some environmental groups and some of our members have concerns about the efficacy of forest management in preventing megafires and object to the parts of the act that seek to limit or shorten environmental review, we'd like to educate our selves and have our questions addressed.
Please check out these webinars and resources:- Supporting the Fix Our Forest Act with CCL Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli and Senior Director of Government Affairs Jennifer Tyler
- American Forests presentation with Danielle Watson on the February 2025 CCL National Call (starts minute 28 or even 42)
- Senate Committee Hearing
- Megafire Action: News and Insights
Dave Atkins:
Dave Atkins has a B.S. in Forest Science - Silviculture and Soil Science, a M.S. in Forest Ecology - Thesis on Old Growth. He had a 37+ year career with the USFS. He worked in the field on Ranger Districts, up through the National Office when he retired 10 years ago. He worked in project and forest planning, using the alphabet of laws, NEPA, ESA, CWA, CAA, NFMA, etc. He is a forest landowner and currently President of the MT Forest Owners Association, a member of the Lolo Restoration Committee, on the steering committee for the MT Prescribed Fire Council, a Fellow in the Society of American Foresters and a member of the Blackfoot Challenge. He has written and spoken extensively on the role of forests in addressing climate change and carbon management. He has been a member of CCL since 2018.The Great Debate: Public Service Commission candidates discuss energy costs
Citizens' Climate Lobby MSU hosted the only scheduled debate in our area between District 2 Public Service Commission candidates Brad Molnar (R) and Susan Bilo (D).
This debate was moderated by Gracie Caldwell, President of the CCL MSU Club, and Anthony O’Donnell, current PSC Commissioner for District 2.
Wednesday Oct. 16th at 7-8:30 pm
Montana State University Strand Union Building Room 233
50 people attended this civil forum to find out which candidate’s approach aligned with theirs.
Bill Barron's Northern Traverse 2024 Climate Ride
CCL Regional Director's 1200 mile road biking tour through Montana from Pablo to Cheyenne, Wyoming
June 15 - July 1, 2024 raised awareness about climate solutions and funds for Citizens' Climate Lobby
Follow Bill's ride on Instagram: BillBarronUtah & Bill's Facebook - or on Citizens' Climate Montana Instagram and Facebook.
Earth Day | Saturday April 22, 2024
Our chapters are gearing up for our big EARTH DAY events here in Montana!
Flathead Valley
Earth Day Expo: Uniting Nature & Technology
If you have kids, curiosity about EVs or heat pumps and how to get money to pay for them, like connecting with conservation minded folks - this event is for you! RSVP now!
Bozeman
Gallatin Valley Earth Day
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Many of us called Rep. Zinke’s D.C. office in March to urge him to vote NO on Resolution 86
“Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy.”
This Concurrent Resolution has been introduced in the U.S. House 4 times starting in 2013, each time garnering less and less co-sponsors and votes. Why is the vote count going down? Because more and more Members of Congress understand that a well designed price on carbon pollution that returns revenue to American households is one of the most effective tools we have to reduce emissions. We asked them to not exclude this important tool from the climate policy discussion.
See this Op Ed by Kristen Walser from the Bozeman Daily Chronicle: Tell Rep. Zinke we need the right tool for the job
Thank you for calling!!
CCL Lobby Team in D.C. in June 2023!
Montana CCL Delegation from June 2023
Check out the keynotes and breakouts from the CCL Conference that preceded Lobby Day HERE
This June 2023, we sent 6 Montanans to D.C. to ask our Members of Congress to support Clean Energy Permitting Reform.
We need to speed up the speed up the pace with which the U.S. builds and deploys new clean energy projects and the transmission lines that deliver that energy.
And we need to improve early community involvement.
We're not alone in calling for reform. So do the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Environmental Defense Fund!
Doing so will lower emissions by 12% by 2050 and improve health!
CCLers met with 436 Congressional offices that one day!
You can amplify our voices by writing to Congress now!
Let's Plan for Resiliency and the Green Energy Economy
Governor Gianforte and Chris Dorrington, Director of Montana DEQ, submitted an application for the Phase I Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) before the April 28, 2023 deadline!
The State of Montana has significant opportunity to help Montana compete in the clean energy economy, reduce harmful air pollution, and create jobs.
A $3 million non-competitive federal grant has been offered to states to work with communities and tribes to develop plans for resilience and clean energy economic development.
Options for projects are vast and would be tailored to each state's needs and goals. Examples range from rooftop solar for Tribal homes, advancing soil health practices, pursuing loan guarantees for companies investing in clean hydrogen, residential energy contractor training programs, to promoting clean heavy-duty vehicles (Class 6 & 7).
This grant and completion of these plans are important for unlocking eligibility for subsequent competitive grants, like the Phase II CPRG grant geared towards implementing the projects communities, tribes, and their partners envision. They will also provide accountability, coordination, and capacity building among stakeholders.
It is expected that the $4.6B allotted to Phase II CPRG will be available starting early in 2024 and will focus on near term projects that can start right away, followed by $31B in competitive grants available over the next 3 years.
Some of these funds and programs are designed to be leveraged with private capital for clean energy investments with community based non-profits and financing institutions.
If you think your town or industry would benefit from this investment, please contact the DEQ!
Earth Day | Saturday April 22, 2023
Our chapters joined in to participate in Earth Day events from around the state!
Conservative Climate Leadership Conference & Lobby Day
Yes, there's a place for conservative climate action. And this is it.
March 28-29, 2023
Washington, DC
#Snowman Protest
A fun family event
Feb 4th, 2023
1-4pm
Depot Park
Whitefish, Montana
Props and signs for decorating your creations will be provided. Or, decorate and pose with C.C. Lumi, our local snow person who is worried about climate change and his people’s future.
Snap a photo with your snowman creation and post on social with hashtag #SnowmanProtest. Tag Senators Tester and Daines, and Congressman Zinke - and ask them to take climate action.
Attendees will also learn how they can efficiently and effectively advocate for national climate policy.
100Snowmen Challenge March 26th, 2022
On an unseasonably warm Saturday in March, 60 of us helped them speak out by making (small) snow people or getting our pictures taken with a dressed up cardboard snow person with signs like 'Can't ski without me!' and solutions hashtags like #carboncashback and #bipartisanclimate.Please search for #100Snowmen on your favorite social media platform, or go to CCL Montana's social media to like, comment, and share! Post a funny comment with hashtags! (Find examples in the #100Snowmen Instructions.) Let's go viral!
Earth Day 2022 in Montana
Everyday is Earth Day for our team, however we had a blast around the state doing work to honor our earth.
Drop Film: Viewing Party & Panel Talk
In partnership with Gallatin Valley Earth Day we hosted world famous angler Hilary Hutcheson: Drop star and co-producer. Also on the panel was Hilary Lindh: World Champion and Olympic Medalist Downhill Ski Racer, and David Brooks: Executive Director, Montana Trout Unlimited. It was a lively talk, watch it on our Youtube channel!
