During the 2023 Montana Legislature, lobbyists for NorthWestern Energy, Montana's monopoly corporate utility, successfully passed HB 971 along party lines. The bill struck down climate pollution from factoring into environmental review decisions. Before it was amended, the bill would have almost destroyed the Montana Environmental Policy Act as well. The legislation was a blatant attempt by the corporation to bypass a district court ruling that halted construction of their newest methane-fired power plant due to the climate pollution it would emit.
I made a collage illustration highlighting the corruption and blatant partisan politicking of the situation, backhandedly labeling NorthWestern Energy as the "Methane Monarchs." The illustration ran in several Northern Plains Resource Council newsletters and social media posts.
Software used: Photoshop
