Governor Greg Gianforte received the final report from his Unleashing American-Made Energy Task Force on August 25, unveiling two dozen recommendations designed to expand Montana’s energy capacity and affordability ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
Gianforte established the task force by executive order in September 2025, charging it with developing near- and long-term strategies to increase the supply of dependable and economical energy across the state. The group organized into three subcommittees to examine energy generation, rising demand, and transmission infrastructure and market dynamics.
Key Recommendations and Themes
The task force’s final report spans 20 recommendations organized across seven thematic areas, including utility regulation, Montana’s energy leadership position, infrastructure expansion, grid efficiency, and consumer energy affordability. The recommendations reflect a broad, technology-neutral approach that incorporates diverse energy sources rather than favoring any single method.
Among the concrete steps Gianforte has already advanced based on task force input is his endorsement of the Western Transmission Expansion Coalition (WestTEC) study, a research initiative aimed at identifying corridor opportunities for new power lines across the region. The state has also joined the Western Governor’s Transmission Permitting Alignment and Coordination Task Force (PACT), a multistate effort to streamline regulatory processes for transmission projects.
The task force recommended that Montana’s state Energy Office seek to intervene in a Public Service Commission case involving NorthWestern Energy’s Large New Load Tariff proposal. In June 2026, Gianforte announced the state would pursue that intervention, positioning Montana to have a formal voice in utility rate decisions that affect industrial and large commercial customers.
Looking Ahead to the Legislature
The recommendations are expected to guide lawmakers when the Montana Legislature convenes in January 2027. Some proposals may require legislative action, while others could be implemented through executive branch agencies or in partnership with private industry and neighboring states.
Gianforte told the task force that their work “addresses that question and confirms that Montana is well-positioned to lead in unleashing American-made energy,” underscoring the administration’s view that energy development and supply expansion align with broader economic and workforce priorities.
Task force chair Bob Morris characterized the effort as having “provided a robust roadmap to a strong energy future for Montana,” framing the recommendations as a practical foundation for policy decisions to come.
The task force’s focus on transmission infrastructure and grid modernization reflects broader Western concerns about capacity constraints and the cost of integrating new generation sources. Montana’s geographic position and existing hydroelectric resources give the state potential leverage in regional energy markets, a theme the recommendations appear to emphasize.
Lawmakers will likely examine which recommendations can be advanced through legislation, which through administrative agency action, and which may require federal coordination or private sector partnership. The transmission permitting work and Public Service Commission case will proceed separately from the legislative calendar, positioning the state for long-term infrastructure development regardless of session-year timing.
The task force’s all-of-the-above energy framework reflects Montana policymakers’ inclination to avoid prescriptive bans or mandates favoring particular fuel sources, instead focusing on market conditions, regulatory efficiency, and infrastructure that supports multiple energy types competing on economics and reliability.
